Operation Holiday has officially launched its fundraising campaign for the 2025 program, marking its 35th year of providing essential support to families in need during the holiday season. This initiative aims to assist families across Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties by supplying food and gifts to those facing financial hardships.
The program’s objective for this year is to provide food assistance to 199 families and holiday gifts for 403 children, all referred by 22 partner agencies. These agencies include food pantries, early learning centers, schools, social services, and health clinics, ensuring that the families receiving assistance are thoroughly vetted. The Operation Holiday steering committee further reviews these referrals to maintain the program’s integrity.
Over the past four years, Operation Holiday has expanded its mission beyond gift distribution. It has also contributed several thousand dollars to local food pantries, demonstrating a strong commitment to community welfare. Fundraising efforts for this year are ambitious; last year, 619 donations were received, totaling $84,236. Contributions ranged from $10 to $5,000, emphasizing grassroots support, as there are no corporate or foundation sponsors backing the program.
Operation Holiday originated in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown, with the specific aim of helping families provide for their children during the holidays. The goal remains to ensure that families have food on the table and gifts under the tree by Christmas morning. To date, the program has supported thousands of families in the three counties and has expanded its reach to include communities served by readers of the Reading Eagle, The Times Herald, The Reporter, and Daily Local News.
Each family involved in the program receives gift cards to local grocery stores, enabling them to purchase ingredients for holiday dinners and essential pantry items. Weis Markets collaborates with Operation Holiday to facilitate these food purchases and gift card distributions. For children aged 16 years and younger, gift cards are procured through Boscov’s and distributed in conjunction with the referring agencies, allowing families the freedom to select gifts that best suit their needs.
Importantly, Operation Holiday only accepts families that have been referred by an agency, ensuring that assistance is directed to those in genuine need. Funding for the program relies solely on reader contributions, all of which are tax-deductible.
For those wishing to contribute, online donations can be made through a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Interested individuals can visit tcnetwork.org and follow the link for Operation Holiday. Donations can also be mailed via checks payable to Operation Holiday at the following addresses: P.O. Box 1181, Pottstown, PA 19464; The Reporter, 34 Susquehanna Ave., Suite 100, Lansdale, PA 19446; or Operation Holiday, 1440 Lacrosse Ave., Reading, PA 19607. All contributors’ names will be published in participating newspapers as donations are received, with options to designate contributions as anonymous or in tribute to loved ones.
As the holiday season approaches, the success of Operation Holiday relies heavily on the generosity of the community. With continued support, the program aims to make a significant impact on the lives of families struggling during this time of year.
