The war in Ukraine has been raging for more than a year, and although its horrors are thousands of miles away, the impact of the devastation is felt even here in the corner of Pennsylvania outside Philadelphia.
One family in Chester County has had to put aside funds from its income to send to relatives who escaped the battlefields to Israel, where they now reside. That sacrifice has come home to put a crimp on how the family can celebrate the holidays this year.
“Because we had family in a war, we have to support them,” said Tanya, the mother of four who is among those who the community, will now be helped by Operation Holiday.
“It’s tough for us right now,” she said recently. “I used to work, but now I stay home. I have no insurance. My children don’t ask for much for Christmas. We try to give them love, and handmade gifts. That is our tradition.”
Her children are ages 14, 12, 9 and 5, she said. She brings in some money through her seamstress work, which is piecemeal and sometimes hard to come by. “I try to make some money while I am at home with my youngest. But it’s not so easy to get a job.”
“I know there are families out there with harder situations than me,” said Tanya, 39, whose 56-year-old husband works in maintenance. “Coming from a poor country, even to have a little is like, Wow!’ There are so man people who won’t have things. But it is hard.”
Operation Holiday
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 33rd 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.
More than $91,000 in donations last year provided food and gifts for 451 children and 199 families, plus cash donations to food pantries in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 19 agencies in the tri-county area. Agencies have referred 165 families with 419 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 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, 307 Derstine Ave., 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.
