From Thanksgiving dinner to presents under the Christmas tree, the Ivins Outreach Center in Morrisville is bringing holiday cheer to families across Bucks County through its annual Thanksgiving food drive, Toys for Tots program and Giving Trees.
The seasonal initiatives bring together residents, businesses, schools, churches and volunteers to help families celebrate the holidays. Whether someone donates a turkey, drops off a can of vegetables or purchases a child's requested gift, every contribution helps make the season brighter.
“Anyone is welcome to stop by to bring donations, no matter how small,” said Darletta Berry-Johnson, executive director of the Ivins Outreach Center.
The center's annual Thanksgiving food drive provides families with Thanksgiving Day baskets filled with a turkey or ham and all the ingredients needed for a holiday dinner, along with breakfast items for the following morning.
“We have a freezer and refrigerator here at Ivan’s to store frozen and perishable items,” said Berry-Johnson.
The goal is to give families everything they need for a traditional holiday meal while making sure there is something to eat the next morning, too.
The center is seeking turkeys, hams, canned vegetables, corn, beans, yams and other nonperishable foods. Cereal, pancake mix and other breakfast items are also welcome, along with grocery store gift certificates, particularly for Giant.
Those who receive a free turkey certificate through Giant's grocery rewards program can donate it to the center, along with the Giant ID needed for validation.
Donations are being collected with the goal of distributing food baskets to families by Nov. 19. Families can pick up their baskets at the center at 80 W. Trenton Ave. in Morrisville, or volunteers will deliver them to households that lack transportation.
Local schools help identify families who may benefit from the program. Through 21st Century grant partnerships, the Ivins Outreach Center works with select school districts and educational partners, including Morrisville, Bristol Borough and Neshaminy school districts, among others, to support children and families.
“People from the area who would normally have nothing to eat on Thanksgiving often will call and ask if we can donate a meal because they don’t know where to go for help,” Berry-Johnson said.
Last year, the center provided Thanksgiving assistance to approximately 33 families. The food drive began about six or seven years ago after staff recognized a need in this area, especially among Morrisville residents.
“The number of baskets we can give out depends on the number of donations we receive,” said Berry-Johnson.
For Thanksgiving food donations or assistance, contact the Ivins Outreach Center at 215-428-0500 or visit ivinsoutreach.org.
The holiday giving continues with the Marine Toys for Tots program in Bucks County, which helps provide new toys to eligible children ages 15 and younger.
Lori Sullivan, coordinator for charitable giving at Ivins, works with Toys for Tots and local organizations to collect and distribute gifts. Last year, the countywide program provided toys to approximately 8,000 children, with Lower Bucks County accounting for about three-quarters of those recipients.
Local businesses, churches and other organizations can join the effort by hosting a Toys for Tots collection box or organizing a toy drive. The Morrisville Fire Company has been a particularly enthusiastic supporter.
“The Morrisville Fire Company is fantastic,” said Berry-Johnson. “They will usually have a toy drive for us and then deliver the toys to us to disseminate.”
Residents can also make toy donations part of their holiday parties, workplace celebrations and other seasonal gatherings. Businesses that prefer to do more can adopt a family and shop for gifts based on children's wish lists.
Behind the scenes, volunteers collect and sort the donated toys by age and gender for Toys for Tots at a Newtown warehouse. The gifts are then distributed to participating organizations, which help get them into children's hands in time for Christmas. The last day to donate toys for Toys for Tots is Thursday, Dec. 10.
Toys for Tots serves eligible children through age 15. Families applying for assistance must provide proof of residency, birth certificates or custody documentation for their children, and proof of need. Qualifying documentation may include verification of participation in programs such as SNAP or WIC, or proof of qualifying housing assistance.
Registration will be available at the Ivins Outreach Center, 80 W. Trenton Ave. in Morrisville, on Thursday, Nov. 19, from noon to 6 p.m. Families can also register at the Epstein Campus of Bucks County Community College on Veterans Highway in Bristol, where Sullivan teaches, on Mondays, Nov. 9, 16, 23 and 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The last day to register for Toys for Tots is Monday, Nov 30.
“For anyone who needs assistance, contact me,” Sullivan said. “Text or email me, and I will send you the link to sign up.”
Sullivan encourages families who have questions about eligibility or registration to reach out to her directly. at 215-681-5578 or trisportsmom@yahoo.com.
The Giving Tree program offers another way to bring smiles to children's faces. The program serves children through age 18 and provides an alternative for families who do not qualify for Toys for Tots.
“For children who don’t qualify for Toys for Tots, and sometimes they just miss qualifying by 1%, we make sure they still receive a holiday present through the Giving Tree program,” Sullivan said.
The tradition has been part of the area for about 40 years. It began at the YMCA, where Sullivan first became involved, and is now coordinated through Ivins.
Families participating in the Giving Tree program can request three toys costing less than $30 each for every child. Gift cards and electronics are not included.
Sullivan prepares tags listing the requested gifts and distributes them to participating businesses and other locations. Shoppers can select a tag from a tree, purchase the requested items and return the gifts for distribution. Businesses and organizations can also adopt families and shop directly from their wish lists.
Participating locations include dance studios, restaurants and day care centers, giving shoppers plenty of opportunities to join in the holiday tradition. Some businesses have customers who return year after year to select tags and purchase gifts.
The program typically assists about 500 children, representing approximately 150 to 200 families. Gifts primarily go to families in Morrisville, Bristol and Levittown, with some assistance reaching Bensalem.
The two programs complement each other. When a family does not meet the eligibility requirements for Toys for Tots, the Giving Tree program may offer another option. Toys for Tots donations can also supplement Giving Tree gifts when a child's requested items have not been donated.
Sullivan estimates that Toys for Tots and the Giving Tree program together will provide approximately 2,000 toys to children in Lower Bucks County this holiday season.
Shades of Green in Morrisville provides warehouse space for the Giving Tree program at no charge, giving volunteers a place to organize and store presents before distribution. The goal is to have gifts ready for families before Christmas.
For Berry-Johnson, the purpose behind the holiday efforts is simple: making sure families have the opportunity to enjoy the season.
“One minute you might be fine and the next minute you find yourself in a situation where you need help,” she said. “It can happen in a blink of an eye, so we want to make sure we are getting presents to families in need.”
With food donations, toy collections and Giving Tree gifts, the Ivins Outreach Center offers residents several ways to make the holidays special for their neighbors.
For information about the Bucks County Toys for Tots program and Giving Trees, contact Lori Sullivan at 215-681-5578 or trisportsmom@yahoo.com.
Businesses and organizations can contact Sullivan to ask about hosting a collection box, organizing a toy drive or adopting a family.
Families can visit the Toys for Tots website at buckscountypa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/request-toys.aspx for information about requesting a toy.
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