The Foundation for the Improvement of Transportation (FIT), managed by the Transportation Management Association of Chester County, with partners from the Summerfield Homeowners Association, has taken a grassroots approach to holiday giving.

Starting in 2014, TMACC began collecting items for patients at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a way to give back to the veterans who regularly use TMACC’s bus service, ChescoBus, to get to and from the VA Medical Center.

“Veterans regularly use ChescoBus as their mode of travel. We wanted to find a way to serve those who have served us,” said Tim Phelps, Executive Director of TMACC and FIT. “TMACC staff developed the idea of a Holiday Gift Drive as a way to make our servicemen and women’s holidays brighter.”

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Since October, FIT and TMACC members have been collecting items from companies, customers, colleagues, and neighbors for the patients at the VA. Items include clothes, hygiene products, and household items for veterans transitioning into new homes. They currently have collected more than 500 gifts and are on track to reach this year’s goal of 2,000.

“In the first year, FIT donated over 400 gifts, and last Christmas, we collected well over 1,700 gifts,” said Phelps. “With such a compassionate community like ours and the help of our partners at the Summerfield Homeowners Associations, 2,000 is an achievable goal.”

FIT is collecting gifts until Dec. 15, and is hosting a Holiday Open House at its office in Malvern on Dec. 12 from 11:30 AM-2 PM. It’s open to anyone who has items to donate. If you are unable to drop off gifts in Malvern, there are also donation boxes at various Chester County banks, township buildings, elected officials’ offices, and more.

Click here if you are interested in donating gifts or for more information on suggested items and drop-off locations.

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