Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
YMCA CELEBRATES SEASON OF GIVING
‘Angels’ fulfill children’s wish lists for Christmas gifts
WEST GOSHEN >> Holiday angels from the West Chester Area YMCA are playing Santa this year for 650 needy kids.
The YMCA partners with Delaware Valley Children’s Charity for the “Angel Program.”
YMCA members pick an angel ornament off a tree and fulfill a child’s wish list with at least four wrapped toys.
On Tuesday, 400 bags of gifts, and bikes too big to be wrapped, destined for Delaware Valley Children’s Charity were loaded onto a pair of trucks by 30 volunteers. Gifts were also delivered to Gaudenzia House, the Melton Center and the YMCA Oscar Lasko Youth Center.
“These kids don’t typically get any other Christmas gifts,” Judy Driscoll, business manager at the West Chester YMCA said. “My passion is being able to head up the program and share hope with these kids.
“I work all year with numbers just to be a part of impacting my community.”
More than 2,600 individually wrapped gifts will be handed out by “Santa.”
“It’s amazing to watch everybody bring all these gifts and share stories of how bringing the gifts impacted them and touched their hearts,” Driscoll said.
Terri Edgar is the Y’s executive director. She said that in 2012, 150 gifts were distributed.
“Our members are so generous,” she said. “This is a fun way to celebrate the holidays.
“Christmas is all about giving.”
Carolyn Caruso is a YMCA member and with Allscripts, which partners with the YMCA’s Angel Program.
“It makes you feel good when giving back to the community,” she said. “(Donors) are free to give and spend what they want—to give from the heart.”
Nick Parise, facilities director, wore a Santa’s cap while loading bikes onto a truck. He didn’t mind being referred to as St. Nick.
“It’s a blessing for us to play Santa,” he said, with a broad smile.