URGENT UPDATE: Operation Holiday is ramping up efforts to support families in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, as the holiday season approaches. With economic challenges impacting many, local mother Isabel, who relies on aid from the Montgomery County Assistance Office, highlights the critical need for community support.
Isabel, a mother of three, faces ongoing health issues that prevent her from working. “I’m still grateful for what I have,” she says, reflecting on her struggles to provide for her daughters. Just last week, Isabel shared how the assistance she has received has kept her family afloat amid rising costs and recent SNAP shutoffs.
This year, Operation Holiday has already partnered with 21 agencies, helping to refer 199 families with a total of 403 children who need food and holiday gifts. The program, now in its 35th year, aims to ensure that every child has a present under the tree and families have food on the table during the holidays.
Isabel’s family benefitted from local pantries and the Salvation Army to make Thanksgiving possible. As Christmas approaches, her daughters are asking for gift cards, art supplies, skin care products, and winter clothing. “I had to push around my bills to afford food,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of community resources.
Operation Holiday has raised $85,000 in donations last year, providing essential support to families in the region. In 2022, the initiative distributed gift cards to 366 children and grocery cards to 189 families. The organization ensures that all funds remain local, with no administrative overhead.
Weis Markets has joined forces with Operation Holiday, offering assistance for food purchases. Families referred to the program can receive grocery gift cards, allowing them to purchase both holiday dinner fixings and pantry staples.
The need for contributions is immediate. Donations are being accepted online via a secure portal at TriCounty Community Network, or checks can be mailed to designated addresses in Pottstown and Lansdale. Contributions are tax-deductible, and donors can opt to remain anonymous or dedicate their gift in memory of someone special.
As the holiday season intensifies, the urgency for community support grows. Isabel, despite her own struggles, is determined to pay it forward. “I help out a few people I know when they need food,” she says, embodying the spirit of giving that Operation Holiday promotes.
To make a difference this holiday season, consider donating to Operation Holiday. With every contribution, you can help families like Isabel’s experience the joy of the holidays. Visit https://tcnetwork.org/ for more details on how to support this vital initiative.
Together, we can ensure that no family goes without during this critical time.
