Newspapers at the heart of holiday giving

’Tis the season for giving. As people throughout the world celebrate the holidays of December, be it Christmas or Hanukkah or just the end of another year, many reflect on the blessings they enjoy and the unfortunate circumstances of others who may be struggling.

The news of families who lose their homes and all their belongings in a fire, the sad tales of parents watching children suffering from cancer, the heartbreaking pictures of people who are hungry and cold — these are the things that stir us, especially at this time of year.

The holiday atmosphere — the music, the decorations, the portrayals of family gifts and comforts — make bleak situations seem bleaker, a contrast captured in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” as well as countless Hallmark and Lifetime specials.

While we are enjoying the revelry of the holidays, our humanity insists that we remember the struggles of others, especially those in our own communities.

In our work at community newspapers, we see it firsthand.

Newspapers in small towns and suburbs are the bearers of the worst news in those towns — the fires that leave people with nothing but the clothes on their backs, the accidents and illnesses that leave families with unmanageable medical expense, the circumstances that create hunger and homelessness.

That news is more often read on a website or mobile app or Facebook page, but it is nonetheless the local newspapers that tell local stories of joy and sorrow.

Thus it’s fitting that local news organizations are at the heart of holiday giving programs in communities.

The Delaware County Daily Times is in its 47th year of the “Daily Times Merry Christmas Fund” raising money that helps hundreds of needy families across the county in partnership with The Salvation Army of Chester.

Last year, the fund raised $25,000 from individual contributions.

The names of donors, many of whom send checks in honor of others instead of sending cards, are printed each day in the Daily Times.

In Chester County, the Daily Local News has works with the United Way of Chester County for the annual “Share the Warmth” program.

Started in 2005, and partnering with the Daily Local News since 2007, “Share the Warmth” has helped numerous needy families with winterization projects, such as fixing leaky roofs and fixing broken furnaces.

More than $800,000 has been raised to support families and about 450 families have benefited from the program.

The Pottstown tri-county area benefits from The Mercury’s Operation Holiday, a program in its 28th year to ensure that children of the Pottstown area have food to eat and gifts to open, no matter how poor or difficult their family situation may be.

Last year more than $42,000 in donations allowed the program to provide food and gifts for 147 families with 412 children in need.

Families are referred by local agencies and churches. Food, which includes the fixings for a holiday dinner as well as staples for the pantry, is ordered, bought, packed and distributed by Mercury employees and Pottstown High School student government volunteers.

Gift cards for every child in the program 16 years of age or younger are purchased through Boscov’s and distributed in partnership with the referring agencies.

The names of contributors are printed in The Mercury, and as with other community programs, nearly all are individual donations by people who want to share their blessings with those less fortunate.

Other fund drives exist throughout the year, such as donation drives by The Reporter in Lansdale for Laurel House, Keystone Opportunity Center, Manna on Main Street, and the SPCA.

These programs, and countless others in small towns throughout the U.S., are fueled by the commitment of community newspapers and the loyalty of readers.

Every dollar raised stays local and goes to those less fortunate in the towns where we live, where we worship, where we shop, and where we get our local news.

This holiday season, as always, we thank our readers for supporting local charities.

Your gifts make the season brighter for those less fortunate.