Things were looking good for Susan and her family four years ago. She and her husband had saved up enough money to put a down payment on a “fixer-upper” home and hired a contractor to begin making improvements.
But six months later, the bottom fell out of that dream.
“It’s been hard for the last 3 1/2 years,” Susan said. “The house we bought was supposed to be renovated, but the contractor took off with out money. Now, we have to fix everything ourselves, so that takes away from our kids.”
Susan, her husband, and her five children — ages 3 to 15 — will be among those families that are helped this holiday season by Operation Holiday, which raises money from donors in the southeastern Pennsylvania area to make sure they have food on the tables and presents under the tree come Christmas.
Susan, not her real name, and her family have relied on help from the North Coventry Food Pantry, but she and her husband still struggle, she said.
“It was really bad for a while there,” she said. “About a year and a half ago, we lived in a hotel with all our five kids because of that situation.”
She can still remember, however, the joy of a holiday meal. “We used to do that all the time before all of this happened,” she said. “I think our last big holiday dinner was probably four years ago. But I still try to make it like we’re not struggling.”
Like many families who are working to make ends meet, Susan and her children don’t talk about it much. Even as their children’s friends are looking forward to getting this or that new toy for the holidays, the five children keep their wishes to themselves.
“The crazy thing is that because we are struggling, they don’t ask for anything,” Susan said. “They never ask for anything for themselves. I think they just grin and bear it. They don;t talk about it with me. I think they try to hide it from me.”
A woman who sounds resilient, Susan said she tries to make do for her family as best she can. “It is hard, but that is what we as mother and father have to do, buckle down and do what we have to do. I try to make it seem like things are okay. I don’t let my kids know the struggling part.”
That’s where Operation Holiday comes in. The program is set up so that parents receive gift cards to be able to buy gifts for their children and provide a holiday meal, keeping a family tradition alive though times are tough. Susan’s family can still enjoy a special holiday through the generosity of Operation Holiday.
HISTORY
Operation Holiday was started in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown to help families going through tough times provide something for their children during the holidays. The mission of the program is to make sure there is food on the table and gifts under the tree when Christmas morning comes.
Now in its 34th year, the program has served thousands of families throughout Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties, expanding its reach in recent years to include communities served by Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.
Nearly $90,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 419 children and 184 families, plus cash donations to food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 17 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 189 families with 366 children for gifts and food.
There is no overhead with Operation Holiday and all funds stay local. Funds are collected and audited in a non-profit foundation account managed by staff of MediaNews Group newspapers who volunteer their time.
Gift cards to area grocery stores are provided to each family for food, so that they can purchase the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry. Weis Markets is a partner with Operation Holiday and has assisted with food purchases and gift cards.
Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies so that families can purchase gifts of their choice.
Operation Holiday does not accept families who have not been referred by an agency.
Operation Holiday is funded solely by reader contributions. All contributions are tax deductible.
HOW TO DONATE
Online donations are being accepted in a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Visit https://tcnetwork.org/ and click on the link for Operation Holiday.
Contributions can be mailed with checks payable to Operation Holiday to PO Box 1181, Pottstown PA 19464; The Reporter, 34 Susquehanna Ave., Ste. 100, Lansdale PA 19446; Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607.
The names of all contributors are published in the participating newspapers as donations are received. Please note whether a contribution should be designated as anonymous or given in tribute or in memory of someone.
