YMCA of Greater Brandywine Invites You to Help Make the Holidays Bright for All in the Community

By

Image via the YMCA of Greater Brandywine.

The holiday season is upon us. The YMCA of Greater Brandywine is working to ensure all people have a happy holiday season, and it invites everyone in the community to help it in these efforts.

Thanksgiving Baskets

The Chester County Food Bank estimates that there are between 43,000 and 80,000 people in Chester County with food insecurity, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to adequate food.

Many of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Chester County branches are offering Thanksgiving food bags or baskets. Everyone from the community is welcome to donate a meal or grab a list of food items (a turkey feather) requested by families. Simply visit any YMCA of Greater Brandywine branch to find out what is needed. Families receiving financial assistance from the YMCA, or who have been referred to the Y as needing food assistance and have completed the request form, receive the dinner bags prior to Thanksgiving to ensure they have the food in time for the holiday.

Angel Trees

All of the branches have Angel Trees or holiday wish lists to help families struggling to make ends meet have a more joyful holiday.

Families receiving financial assistance from the YMCA, or who have been referred to the Y as needing assistance, receive gifts donated by the community. These children (and adults) complete a “wish list” to receive anything from bikes to games to clothing and supermarket gift cards. Donations are picked up by or sent to families prior to Christmas. If you’d like to help a family have a happier holiday, simply visit any YMCA of Greater Brandywine branch to find out what is needed. All in the community are invited to help.

Last year, more than 1,700 children and families received gifts through the YMCA’s Angel Tree program.

These are great opportunities to not only experience the joy of giving, but to show children the importance of helping others.

YMCA’s Impact

“Being here at the Y has been thoroughly life-changing,” said one of the recipients of a Thanksgiving basket and Angel Tree gifts. “It started with so many little things, like working with me when money was extra tight around the holidays, adding me to the Angel Tree, so my son could receive presents at Christmas time and getting bags of food at Thanksgiving. Receiving that made me feel that people really do get it. I wasn’t alone, and of course, it helped me get through the holidays.”

Like so many others in the community, this person appeared to be doing well on paper, paying basic bills, but the reality was that the family struggled, living paycheck to paycheck.

Anyone can help this holiday season at each of YMCA’s branches. You do not need to be a member to join in the giving. Simply stop in at any of the branches and visit the member services desk to select a turkey feather, make a food or monetary donation, or select a child or family from an Angel tree or list. YMCA staff have all the details and information you need.

[uam_ad id=”80503″]

.

[uam_ad id=”80502″]

Connect With Your Community

Subscribe to stay informed!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement
Creative Capital logo