Many mark Giving Tuesday in the county
Delaware Countians celebrated #GivingTuesday in many ways, from distributing work attire to collecting toys for the needy to accepting donations for non-profits aiding homeless women and children, history, care packages for soldiers.
This year marked the sixth day kicking off the holiday charitable giving season, with the idea that after a weekend from Black Friday through Cyber Monday spending to take a day to give back to others. It was started by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y in New York City and has grown as a social media campaign that saw more than $177 million raised last year by millions of people in 98 countries.
“We have been incredibly inspired by the generosity in time, efforts and ideas that have brought our concept for a worldwide movement into reality,” Henry Timms, founder and executive director of the 92Y, said.
Here in Delco, residents responded to the call to give.
For four hours at Neumann University, thousands of men’s and women’s business attire was made available to those facing financial challenges through the Wardrobes for Work program.
This program was launched earlier this year through the university’s Center for Leadership and over a series of months, the items were collected by dozens of local businesses and firms, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Delaware County government offices.
“Wardrobes seeks to remove for one Work of the barriers – purchasing work suitable clothing – that local residents may face when attending job interviews, re-entering the workforce, starting a new job, or simply maintaining their existing work wardrobe,” Danielle McNichol, general counsel of Neumann University and director of the Neumann Center for Leadership, said.
Attendants were welcome to come to the university’s Rocco A. Abessinio Building for a four-hour period in which they were invited to pick three outfits for free.
Much of the day’s donations were done online.
For example, Ridleybased PathWays PA urged people to make contributions via its Facebook page and through a blast email to assist its mission of helping homeless teen mothers and young women in its Transitional Living Program, where more than 150 have been helped complete their education, gain employment and move into safe, permanent housing in the past 10 years.
The Radnor Educational Foundation also encouraged giving as the organization helped 3,250 participants last year.
The Delaware County Historical Society was among the non-profits who launched a Facebook fund raiser, where usual Facebook fees were waived for the day. The society was also encouraging all to buy soldier care packages through its website as $1 of every package purchased for the troops would be donated to the society through Dec. 17.
City Team Ministries also placed a Facebook plea and while money is always accepted, officials there need some help with their Santa duties.
“We have about 2,600 kids on our list that we’re trying to get toys for,” Kwinn Tucker, director of the Chester organization, explained.
The Seventh and Sproul streets non-profit is collected toys until Dec. 11 in time for their Dec. 16 delivery and are collecting toys through an Amazon wish list and through their Adopt-A-Child campaign.
She said of the 2,600 children, 800 have someone who is buying toys directly for them. Last year, 1,200 children were adopted for the holiday.
“To adopt one child, we would ask you to think about getting two toys from their list, which is about $50,” Tucker said, adding that those interested in doing so just need to send an email of interest to Anna Donahoe at adonahoe@ cityteam.org.
“We’ve already talked to their parents about what they like,” Tucker added. “We know that people are really in need.”
She said City Team is in a bit of a time crunch as officials assemble the wish lists and then deliver to the families, who are given the unwrapped toys with wrapping materials so they can participate in that end of the holiday festivities.
“We really need help soon to get those packed and processed,” Tucker said. “We’re really wanting to make that happen.”
Even as the urgency pressed upon her organization, the director took a moment to reflect on the magnanimity of Tuesday’s efforts.
“We love days that challenge our community to be reminded that we need help serving this community well,” she said. “It feels like it’s one of those days where we can all come together and help a little bit ... The community can really show up and help people who are struggling.”