By Danielle DeSisto:
With the holidays approaching, the Burlington County Times and Willingboro Rotary Club are kicking off their annual Give A Christmas campaign to help needy families make the season bright for their children.
Now in its 50th year, the fund hopes to raise $80,000 to ease the burden of gift buying during the holidays for struggling families. The Give A Christmas fund has collected and distributed over $3 million to Burlington County families since 1968.
Last year, it raised $72,697, but $87,570 was distributed to 903 families using excess funds from previous years.
“I’m humbled that the region I live in has given so much money over decades of community service,” said Shane Fitzgerald, executive editor of the BCT. “I am proud that our newspapers are a big part of helping those in need at this time of year. It’s truly a partnership with our readers. And for a community newspaper, I’m not really sure there is anything we can do as a business that’s more important. And we’re a small part of it, because our readers who donate are really the ones who make this happen.”
County families with children age 17 and younger are eligible to be considered for assistance. Individuals submit letters explaining their hardship and request for help.
Tom Dickson, of the Willingboro Rotary Club, said he’s always moved by the community’s support for Give A Christmas.
“Sometimes people send us letters requesting help, and then a few years later they send us a letter wanting to help,” Dickson said. “That’s something I always look forward to every year.”
The Burlington County Times and Willingboro Rotary Club are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Give A Christmas.
“This project is a proud legacy for the employees of the BCT, and we are honored to celebrate its 50th anniversary with our hardworking friends at the Willingboro Rotary Club,” said Amy Gianficaro, director of communications and community engagement at the BCT. “The club makes sure letters are carefully read, evaluated for eligibility, and that Burlington County families who need help at the holidays are given it through Give A Christmas.”
Donations and letters of assistance should be sent to Give A Christmas, c/o Burlington County Times, 4284 Route 130 N., Willingboro, N.J. 08046. Parents, custodial grandparents and other legal guardians from Burlington County requesting help may write letters to the above address. Letters sent by other relatives, family, friends, children or those who are incarcerated will not be considered. Letters must include the number and ages of children 17 and younger in the household and an explanation of the hardship. Letters should include the family’s full name and complete return address on the outside of the envelope. Please print or write appeals, and address the envelope neatly. Letters requesting help should be postmarked by Dec. 15. Only one request letter per family. Because of the high volume of requests, fund organizers cannot promise assistance for everyone who seeks it.
All of your cash or check donation reach needy families. Please include the donation form found in print in the daily newspaper or available for download at burlingtoncountytimes.com/GiveaChristmas. Send this with your donation to: Give A Christmas, c/o Burlington County Times, 4284 Route 130 N., Willingboro, N.J. 08046. Make checks payable to Give A Christmas.
Letters to Give A Christmas must include the family’s full name, return address, the number and ages of children, and an explanation of the hardship. Letters can be mailed by Dec. 15 to Give A Christmas, c/o Burlington County Times, 4284 Route 130, Willingboro, N.J. 08046.
Anyone with questions should contact Audrey Harvin, managing editor, at aharvin@thebct.com.
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