The Morning Call’s Be An Angel campaign
Reach into your hearts and pockets to help Lehigh Valley nonprofits
Onceagain,it’stimetoearn your wings by participating in The Morning Call’s 23rd annual Be An Angel campaign. Each year during the holiday season, we invite nonprofit organizations in the Lehigh Valley to submit a wish list of three items they need most to better serve their clients. We publish their wishes in this annual special section and invite you to reach into your hearts and pockets to find ways to help others.
It’s hard for me to believe that 23 years have passed since I started the Be An Angel campaign. That first year, I never dreamed it would be anything more than a project for the 1999 holiday season.
I’ll admit I was skeptical about it succeeding. But I proceeded, knowing there must be other people like me who truly want to help others, especially during the holidays, but are unsure of how or where their assistance is needed.
My skepticism quickly turned into hope the day after the first Be An Angel wish list was published. When I got to work, I was greeted with messages on my voicemail from agencies already reporting donations — some larger than I ever dreamed possible.
The very first wish granted was reported by Janice Osborne, who was our contact person at the American Red Cross in Allentown. As you know, the agency’s mission is to serve people in emergencies, such as fires, hurricanes and floods. Among the items on its wish list was a commercial printer. While compiling that first list, I remember doubting any wish that costly would be fulfilled. To my surprise, a generous donor offered to buy the printer within hours of finding the Be An Angel sectionin the newspaper that morning.
From that initial donation to thousands that have followed over more than two decades, Be An Angel has done exactly what it set out to do — it has connected those in need with those who are eager to help them.
It’s also hard for me to believe it has been nearly 10 years since I retired from The Morning Call. The Be An Angel campaign was one of the hardest things for me to leave behind. But I found comfort knowing I was leaving it in the very capable hands of three colleagues: former Morning Call reporter Ryan Kneller, former features editor Mike Hirsch and editorial assistant Ann Lowy. To this day, Lowy compiles the
wishes and the donations and does much of the work needed to ensure the campaign’s success.
They proved me right and did an outstanding job continuing the campaign every year, even through tough times like the COVID pandemic.
I never felt the campaign was in danger until earlier this year. Sadly, a few months ago, Hirsch lost his valiant battle with ALS. Kneller has since moved on.
I was seriously concerned Be An Angel would end. But I was relieved
when I ran into Morning Call editor Mike Miorelli at Hirsch’s memorial
service. Miorelli assured me he would keep the campaign going, saying Be An Angel is one of The Morning Call’s most important community outreach efforts.
I offered to help him in any way I could.
“I might take you up on that,” Miorelli said.
He did.
A few weeks ago, I was thrilled when
The Morning Call’s Director of Entertainment, Craig Larimer, asked me to once again be involved in the Be An Angel campaign, which he now oversees.
Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to again be part of such a feel-good endeavor?
Since it began in 1999, Be An Angel has raised nearly $5.3 million in goods and services for organizations in the Lehigh Valley that address a wide range of needs — not only for people but even for animals.
Angels, through the years you have earned your wings in thousands of ways. You’ve provided homeless families with food, clothing and shelter. You’ve kept at-risk children off the streets and in programs that will shape their futures. You’ve comforted the sick and brought smiles to hospice patients and their loved ones. You’ve provided aid to the visually and hearing impaired.
Last year alone, you donated $307,000 in goods and services — up $70,000 from the previous year when we were experiencing the worst of the COVID pandemic. And even though donations were down in the 2020-2021 season, you angels still found safe ways to donate. To respect donor social-distancing concerns, many agencies asked for gift cards and money toward specific programs and needs. Some agencies continue to do so, which makes shopping easier for you.
Sadly but understandably, volunteerism suffered during the pandemic. This year, several agencies are again asking for volunteers, hoping to fill that deficit. If you’ve got free time to give, keep in mind that volunteers are the most valuable donation those agencies can receive.
This year, 198 non-profit organizations are participating in our campaign. Their wishes range from inexpensive items like personal care products, games, toys and sports equipment, clothing and cleaning products to more costly items like iPads, office space, furniture and even vehicles.
A 12-passenger van is needed by Allentown-based Lehigh Conference of Churches, which provides a soup kitchen, drop-in center, housing services and more to struggling individuals and families, some of whom live in encampments. It also needs tents and a stackable washer and dryer.
Everlasting Life Ministries Food Pantry in Allentown also needs a vehicle — a pickup truck and gas cards to help it provide groceries, clothing and meals to homeless and low-income families.
Parish Nursing of St. Luke’s in Allentown, which also works primarily with homeless clients, needs tarps to be used as winter tents for those who live outside, along with all-weather boots
and umbrellas that can be used to keep sun, rain and snow from saturating its clients.
Many needed items benefit children. If you can afford to buy an extra warm hat and pair of winter gloves, a children’s book or a board game this holiday season, you can earn your angel wings.
Boys & Girls Club of Allentown, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley and Children’s Home of Easton are among several youth agencies asking for new board games.
Even infants benefit from Be An Angel. St Luke’s Hospital NICUs, which provide care to critically ill newborns at several area locations, is asking for basic care products like baby shampoo and lotion, board books and newborn sleepers
placed in winter-themed gift bags for patients’ families. Barbara Raab, a St. Luke’s registered nurse, looks forward to the campaign each year since first submitting a wish list five years ago. “We’ve had all our wishes fulfilled each year,” said Raab.
Another agency that has benefited hugely from the campaign is Cops ‘N’ Kids Literacy Program in Bethlehem, which provides free books to children throughout the Lehigh Valley. President and founder Beverly Bradley said the organization has distributed more than one million books, the majority of which were acquired through the Be an Angel campaign.
Some agencies will be happy with gently used items you no longer use,
like bicycles and musical instruments. Community Bike Works in Allentown is asking for bikes in any condition for its Earn a Bike programs, which helps
at-risk children by teaching them how to earn a bike by learning to repair them.
Community Music School in Allentown is looking for new or gently used keyboards, violins and guitars to give to students who cannot afford to purchase an instrument. And Satori, also in Allentown, needs used band and orchestra instruments. The American Legion Band of Bethlehem also needs used band instruments.
As you can see, the needs are diverse. To help you find a way to help, we have broken down the wish list into categories: health care, services for families, youth, seniors, animals, churches, schools and the arts. An “also in need” category includes organizations such as libraries and museums.
The campaign continues until Jan. 31. We ask that you make donations directly to the organizations and please them it’s a Be An Angel donation.
“Page through this tab and you have to smile because you can see there are
ways you can help others,” said Bradley of Cops ‘N’ Kids. “That strikes a chord. It erases feelings of helplessness. It gives hope.”
Please take Bradley’s advice. Put some time aside to read through these wish lists, which also are available
online. Hopefully, will find many ways you can make a positive difference in your community.
Thank you, angels, for continuing to make this campaign a success.
ANGEL 34 FOUNDATION
5611 Hemlock Place
Orefield, PA 18069
For every child to have their own angel during their battle with cancer.
1. Angel Of Hope: $10 monetary donation to support ICEE program for children during their visit to clinic or hospital. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
2. Angel of Faith: $25 monetary donation to support Angel Cuisine (Meal Program) and Yum Yum Boxes for children/families. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
3. Angel of Love: $50 or more monetary donation to support Derek’s Camp Flip Flop, a two-week respite summer camp for children and families in Wildwood Crest, N.J.
Contact: Doug Sheriff at 610-5331923.
ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES
2289 Avenue A Bethlehem, PA 18017
Provides services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in the Lehigh Valley.
1. Amazon gift cards for purchasing adult educational materials for basic literacy and math skills. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
2. Washable recliners, or other comfortable and washable seating.
3. Digital camera.
Contact: Christopher Kaklamanis at 610-849-8076.
AUTISM SPEAKS — LEHIGH VALLEY
1060 State Road, Second Floor Princeton, NJ 08540
Together we are enhancing lives today and accelerating a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow.
1. Monetary donations to support our Lehigh Valley Walk and the organization’s mission. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
2. Volunteers to assist during our Lehigh Valley Walk on Sept. 9.
3. In-Kind donations to support our Lehigh Valley Walk.
Contact: Laura Casolaro at 856-3830148.
BASEBALL FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE
16 S. Hellertown Ave.
Quakertown, PA 18951
Provides a baseball program for mentally and physically challenged people. We have two groups, for ages 5-13 and 14- and over.
1. Monetary donations. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
2. Gift cards. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
3. Volunteers.
Contact: Paul Gerhart Jr. at 267-9924973.
BOUTIQUE AT THE RINK
P.O. Box 1231
Bethlehem, PA 18016
Proceeds from our annual sale go to the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley, St. Luke’s Cancer Center and St. Luke’s Hospice.
1. Giant, Wegman’s, ShopRite or Weis gift cards. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
2. Staples gift cards to purchase supplies needed for sale. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
3. Gift cards from area restaurants or
attractions for raffle prizes. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.” Contact: Carol Jacoby at 610-3908163.
BRIAN D. PERIN ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE HOUSE
2455 Black River Road
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Provides inpatient hospice care for patients.
1. Women’s nightgowns, new, sizes M, L and XL.
2. Twin-size cotton blankets, new, prints for men and women.
3. Twin-size air mattresses with air pumps.
Contact: Gail McDevitt a t484-5267120.
CAMELOT FOR CHILDREN
2354 W. Emmaus Ave.
Allentown, PA 18103
Fun and friendship for children with disabilities and/or medical challenges.
1. Extra-large, heavy-duty 55-gallon trash bags.
2. Bulk snacks. Please no peanuts; some gluten-free snacks would be great.
3. Walmart, Target, Costco gift cards. Please mark envelope “Be an Angel donation.”
Contact: Emily Werner at 610-791-5683.