The contributions came from near and far.
One local couple, who wished to remain anonymous, gave $10,000. Others -- some who gave their names and some who didn’t -- gave $1,000 or more.
Many people, honoring loved ones living or lost ones living only in memory, gave $10s, $20s, and $100s.
Gifts came in cash, in change and in checks. They were accompanied by notes, cards and preceded by phone calls asking if they could do something more specific than their monetary gifts.
This year’s Operation Holiday was phenomenal in scope and need. The stories of families beset by illness, loss of jobs, and increasing costs of food and fuel were poignant and often heartbreaking.
Contributors made it also phenomenal in money raised. In a year when everyone’s budgets are being stretched thin, many, many local people found room in their hearts to help those less fortunate and dug deeper to give more.
Operation Holiday this year raised $58,123.20, an amount that exceeded by far last year’s total of just over $44,000 and was the highest amount of the past five years.
In this year, when businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits are struggling to balance their budgets, Operation Holiday had one of its strongest years in memory.
The difference perhaps is that Operation Holiday is not a charity -- it is instead an experience of neighbors helping their neighbors. And so, when neighbors are most in need, those who still have a little left over give generously.
The Mercury has never set a goal for Operation Holiday, but has raised between $40,000 and $70,000 every year since its inception in 1991. Every penny raised goes to help local families with children. The program from identifying families to recordkeeping to food ordering and purchasing of the gift cards is handled by employees of The Mercury, their families, and volunteers.
Employees of local service agencies -- case workers, Head Start classroom teachers, and others -- assist with identifying families and distributing food and gifts. School volunteers help with packing; Mercury drivers man the delivery vans.
This year, food and gift cards were delivered to 151 families with 416 children. Boscov’s stores provided a generous discount allowing the gift dollars to go further, and Weis Markets donated managers’ time and dollars along with delivering the food.
Behind the scenes of the Operation Holiday stories of need and photos of food being packed in Mercury vans are the stories told in notes received, both from those who give and those who receive.
“We read the Operation Holiday stories ... and try to teach our daughter to help those less fortunate,” wrote a family in a card sent with their gift. “When we emptied her piggy bank, she wanted to contribute half to the fund. We also wanted to match her contribution.”
“I no longer work in Pottstown but want to do something cause I have many memories tied to the area,” wrote another.
“Thank you for all your hard work in this huge operation ... Happy holidays to all!” wrote another.
Some have asked that their donations be earmarked for the boy whose piggybank was stolen, or the mother whose family lost belongings in a fire, or the woman evicted from her apartment after losing her ability to work due to a crash injury, or the young father suffering from cancer and unable to buy gifts for his daughters.
These requests were honored with specific Operation Holiday distributions.
Cards and letters are also received from those who appreciate the help of Operation Holiday.
“We appreciate the help as this year has been a difficult one for us. I can not wait to see the children’s smiles,” wrote one mother.
“The food and gift card will help us so much this year,” wrote another. “We appreciate all that you do for us.”
Several families this year discovered they were on the Operation Holiday list in duplicate under different relatives’ names. Both returned the gift cards and food to be redistributed to other needy families on a waiting list rather than keep the extras.
The joy in giving and humility in receiving were felt in abundance in this difficult year.