Operation Holiday expands to help fire victims
Operation Holiday, the giving program of this newspaper and related publications, recently finished a successful fundraising campaign followed by a reminder that need in our local communities exists throughout the year.
Early Saturday, Feb. 25, a roof fire tore through the Orchard Ridge apartments off Spiece Road in East Coventry, displacing 14 families. Families are in temporary housing, many having lost all personal possessions in the devastating blaze.
Several organizations are collecting gift cards the displaced families can use for clothing and household items. Gift card donations can be made at The
Orchard Ridge Clubhouse, 700 Summer Lane; Coventry Food Pantry, 692 W. Schuylkill Road; Parker Ford Church, 20 Rinehart Road; Connection Church, 755 S. Keim St., and Branch Life Church, 780 Pughtown Road.
Operation Holiday is stepping up to help these families and give our readers the opportunity to contribute. Online contributions to purchase gift cards can be made through the secure online portal at https://tcnetwork.org/donate-to-operation-holiday/ Designate Orchard Ridge families in the field for Donor Recognition.
Gift cards totaling $1,400 have already been donated from Operation Holiday. More will be given based on amounts received. Operation Holiday will purchase the gift cards based on donations and distribute to families through the community agencies and churches named.
Operation Holiday in December, 2022, and January, 2023, raised $91,458.45. Food and gift cards were provided to hundreds of families with children in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties. Cash contributions were also made to 12 food pantries in the region in January to assist with food purchases during the winter months.