‘Neighbor helping neighbor’

Share the Warmth campaign ends, but giving continues

As families of Chester County gather together to share in each other’s company this holiday season, they may do so knowing United Way’s “Share the Warmth” program that they helped contribute to was a success.

Raising $33,090 since the start of the program on Thanksgiving Day this year, the humble program that started in 2005 has grown into a tradition of supporting those less fortunate this holiday season.

“During this time of giving and reflection, the support that we have received for Share the Warmth is yet another reminder of the truly gen-

erous and caring community we live in,” said Claudia Hellebush president and CEO of United Way of Chester County.

“This year, Share the Warmth will address immediate weather related concerns, along with our traditional longer term home related solutions, and we thank each and every person for their gift to this important program.”

In 2007, United Way partnered with the Daily Local News to help raise awareness about the needs in our community.

The “Share the Warmth” program has helped numerous needy families with winterization projects, such as fixing leaky roofs and broken furnaces.

Since the start of the program in 2005, over $800,000 has been raised and about 450 families have benefited from the program.

And since 2007, the readership of the Daily Local News can say they have supported their local community in their time of need.

“Once again this year, we are just overwhelmed by the generosity of this community,” said Ed Condra, senior publisher of the Daily Local News. “This truly is the season of giving and there is no better example than neighbor helping neighbor. I am so thankful for the incredible support we see year after year.”

But the giving does not have to stop just because the holidays are winding down. A program run by the county, called “Decade to Doorways,” has partnered with United Way and hopes to eliminate homelessness in Chester County by 2022.

“It’s a bigger problem than most people in Chester County realize,” said Lauren Campbell, the program’s administrator.

In January, the program attempted to count how many homeless people there were in the county, both sheltered and unsheltered. Campbell said that they found five unsheltered homeless people, and 677 sheltered, for a total of 682 in the county.

According to the organization’s website, several of the organization’s guiding principles include retooling the crisis response system and community collaboration.

Donations can be made on the organization’s website at www.decadetodoorways.org.

As for “Share the Warmth,” the people and institutions that have donated to the share the warmth program so far are:

Mr. James Beach Jr. James and Linda Holden Mary Ann Meredith Ann Nutt

In Memory of Patrick Nutt Mr. Kerry Acker Sr. P. Fred and Joann

Anderson B. H. Arthur Jr. Todd Peterson Patricia Savant Don & Claudia Joye Donna Zimmerman E J Lawn & Landscape LLC In Memory of Muz-Sarah F. Johnson Mary G. Atkins Kimberly A. Makke Julia J. Pollock Ellen Ronayne Paul and Rosario Currie Jean Ferroni John and Jean Kerrigan Daniel and Rosalie Madonna In Memory of Family and Friends Howard and Anne Fussell Susan Hartman

In Memory of Herb Waltz Robert Kaiser Richard and Helen

Kitrosser The Margera Family Mr. and Mrs. Roger S.

Millls Sr. Barbara J. Stonestrom Mr. and Mrs. Al Gerhards Warren and Marjory

Greenwald Charlie and Pam Lobb Edith A. Miller Robert and Jean Schaefer Robert and Jennifer McNeil Mark and Robin Subers

In Honor of Ted and Bonnie

Saddic Frederick and Mary Ann Travaglini In Memory of John Reuter Wayne and Angelina

Winther Roberta Eckman Paula N. Gowen Thomas R. Green Sr. and Family In Memory of Family Members that have passed Stephen L.Irving Elizabeth D. Strode Joseph W. Strode III Dr Robert and Judith

Sulzman William and Evelyn

Warfel II Constance Lockwood Cline Dorothy E. Lewis In Memory of Gordon Lewis & Matt Evoli Ted and Bonnie Saddic Frank and Joanne Steidler Charles and Patricia

Whiteside James and Joan Anne

Leslie Gerald Sebastian Mary Ann Clayton Roger and Joyce Lacy Perry and Jackie Phillips In Memory of Amy Phillips from Dad, Jake and Lucy Douglas and Mary Anne

Wolf Alison W. Bond Paul and Donna Frick William and Linda Kipp In Memory of Grandson Matt Ronald and Joanne Kosh Diane and Tom Umile London Grove Grange #63 On The Go Kids Inc Allen & Sarah Burke Kathleen Fernald Carl and Lucille Garrison Mary Jane Thompson Joseph E. Young Bransby and Donna Bushey Mary Ann Cronauer Dorothy E. Goleash In Memory of Frank and Big Lou William Frank and Bonnie

Clark Rona K. Obert Louis and Marianne

Thomas Davis Yoder Law Firm of Barry S. Rabin Radley Run Garden Club John and Claudia Hellebush Sandy and Barry Neufeld In Memory of Clete Bonds and Fran Nitkin Nancy Pitcherella and Family In Memory of Husband and Father John Pitcherella Donald S. Pratt Sue Hellebush QVC John and Kathy Lilley Mrs. Kathy M. Palmer Richard Schaffer Richard and Joan Turner J. Elizabeth Yarnall Westminster Preschool Robert and Mary Barcus Karen S. Bauer Keith and Barbara Dallara Norman and Gail Fleisher Kent and Sharon

Fredericksen Barry Keen and Miriam

Flynn The Lacy Family Rita and Michael Lee Louis and Barbara Mandich Larue Morgan Ronald and Shirley Osborne John and Diane Paul Bob and Mary Ann Stewart Virginia Graf Turner Fanny Warren Gerald and Mary Wilk Sarah L. Hellebush Richard & Donna Ferrier In Loving Memory of Kevin Peifer Doug & Gail Brandon Seide Financial Group Charles & Janet DeTulleo

Contributions in any amount are welcome and greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to United Way of Chester County and send to 211 N. Walnut Street, West Chester, PA, 19380, Attn: SHARE THE WARMTH. Readers can also donate securely online at www. GivetoSharetheWarmth.org.

To contact Daily Local News staff writer Adam Farence, email afarence@dailylocal.com, or call 610235-2647.

“This year, Share the Warmth will address immediate weather related concerns, along with our traditional longer term home related solutions, and we thank each and every person for their gift to this important program.” — Claudia Hellebush president and CEO of United Way of Chester County