The annual fundraising effort for the **2025 Operation Holiday** program has officially begun, aiming to support families in need across **Montgomery**, **Chester**, and **Berks** counties. Now in its **35th year**, this initiative focuses on providing food and gifts to children from struggling families, reinforcing the critical role of community support during the holiday season.
This year, Operation Holiday aims to assist **199 families** and provide gifts for **403 children** through referrals from **22 partnering agencies**. These agencies include food pantries, early learning centers, schools, social services, and health clinics. Each referral is carefully vetted and reviewed by the Operation Holiday steering committee to ensure that the assistance reaches those who need it most.
Over the past four years, Operation Holiday has successfully donated several thousand dollars to local food pantries, enhancing its impact on community welfare. The fundraising goal for this year is notably ambitious. In **2024**, the program received **619 donations**, totaling **$84,236**. Contributions come from readers of local newspapers and websites, with amounts ranging from **$10** to **$5,000**. Notably, Operation Holiday operates without corporate or foundation sponsorships, meaning all funds directly benefit local families.
Operation Holiday was initiated in **1991** at **The Mercury** in **Pottstown** to help families provide for their children during the holidays. The program’s mission is straightforward: to ensure families have food on their tables and gifts under their trees come Christmas morning. Over the years, it has positively impacted thousands of families across the region, and recently expanded its outreach to communities served by the **Reading Eagle**, **The Times Herald**, **The Reporter**, and **Daily Local News**.
Each family in the program receives gift cards for local grocery stores, allowing them to purchase ingredients for holiday meals and pantry staples. **Weis Markets** collaborates with Operation Holiday, assisting with food purchases and gift card distributions. Additionally, gift cards for children aged **16 and under** are procured from **Boscov’s** and distributed through the referring agencies, enabling families to select gifts that best suit their needs.
It is important to note that Operation Holiday exclusively accepts families referred by vetted agencies. The program is entirely funded by reader contributions, and all donations are tax-deductible.
For those wishing to contribute, donations can be made online through a secure portal in partnership with **TriCounty Community Network** by visiting **tcnetwork.org** and following the link for Operation Holiday. Contributions can also be mailed via checks made out to Operation Holiday to 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**.
As donations are processed, the names of all contributors will be published in participating newspapers. Donors are encouraged to specify if they wish for their contributions to remain anonymous or to be made in tribute or memory of someone special.
