Jennifer, a resident of Maidencreek Township, faces a challenging dilemma as she contemplates returning to her career as a certified medical assistant while providing for her three children. With the rising costs of child care, she finds that a return to work would primarily serve to cover those expenses. “If I were to go back to work, I would literally only be working to pay for child care,” she explained. As a result, Jennifer has chosen to stay home, managing the household while her fiancé works.
The financial strain of one income has made it increasingly difficult for the family to maintain a stable food supply. “I budget as much as I can to make the money stretch — going to discount grocery stores for the essentials,” she said. Despite her efforts, she notes, “Prices are just out of control.” Reflecting on her childhood, Jennifer remarked, “I remember going to the store with my mom when I was little and $100 worth of groceries would fill the entire trunk. Now, $100 barely buys you enough to fill the back seat.”
With children aged between 3 and 8, ensuring they receive nutritious meals has become a formidable task. After a year of suffering in silence, Jennifer and her family reached out for assistance and connected with the Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank. She expressed gratitude for the support, especially for the pantry locations that allow easy access. “With three kiddos, it can be tough going to the grocery store, so being able to just pop my trunk and get a box of food has been really helpful,” she said.
In her experience with Helping Harvest, Jennifer has learned that seeking assistance should not be a source of embarrassment. “It’s OK to need help,” she emphasized. “Everyone — at some point or another — is going to struggle. It’s all part of being human.”
Operation Holiday: A Lifeline for Families
Founded in 1991 at The Mercury in Pottstown, Operation Holiday aims to support families during challenging times by ensuring they have food and gifts for their children during the holiday season. Now in its 35th year, the initiative has expanded its reach, serving numerous families across Berks, Chester, and Montgomery counties. Last year, Operation Holiday raised nearly $85,000, which provided gift cards to 366 children and grocery gift cards to 189 families, along with cash donations to local food pantries.
This year, Operation Holiday has partnered with 21 agencies in the tri-county area, referring 199 families with 403 children for gifts and food. The program operates with no overhead costs, ensuring that all funds remain local. Contributions are collected and audited in a nonprofit foundation account managed by MediaNews Group volunteers.
Gift cards are provided to families for food, enabling them to purchase not only holiday dinner staples but also pantry essentials. Weis Markets collaborates with Operation Holiday, assisting with both food purchases and gift card distribution. Additionally, gift cards for every child under 16 are procured through Boscov’s and distributed through referring agencies, allowing families to select gifts suited to their children’s preferences.
Operation Holiday exclusively accepts families referred by partner agencies. Funding for the program relies entirely on reader contributions, which are tax-deductible.
How to Support Operation Holiday
Individuals interested in supporting Operation Holiday can make online donations through a secure portal in partnership with TriCounty Community Network. Contributions can be made by visiting https://tcnetwork.org/ and clicking on the link for Operation Holiday. Alternatively, checks can be mailed to Operation Holiday at P.O. Box 1181, Pottstown, PA 19464.
Contributors’ names are published in participating newspapers as donations are received. Donors are encouraged to specify whether their contribution should be designated as anonymous or made in tribute or memory of someone.
Operation Holiday continues to be a vital resource for families in need, providing not only essential food supplies but also a sense of community support during the holiday season.
