Give A Christmas program helps Bucks County families in need

For local families struggling to make ends meet, the holidays can bring added financial pressure at a time when household budgets are already stretched thin.

The Bucks County Opportunity Council’s Give A Christmas program helps ease that burden by providing financial assistance to local households so they can celebrate the holidays while keeping up with other essential expenses.

Through the annual program, eligible individuals and families receive Walmart gift cards that can be used to purchase holiday gifts and other necessities. The assistance is particularly important for households facing unexpected expenses, job losses or other financial setbacks that leave little money for holiday celebrations.

“Many people would not be able to celebrate the holidays without this type of help,” said Joseph S. Cuozzo, director of development for the Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC).

The program served 375 families last year, a number that typically ranges from 300 to 400 annually. BCOC generally raises about $140,000 through Give A Christmas to assist local families in need. 

Although poverty in Bucks County is not always visible, the need for assistance remains significant. BCOC served more than 62,000 people throughout the county during its last fiscal year, Cuozzo said.

“Every family has their own story of why they are in need of this program,” he said.

For some households, a temporary setback can make the difference between being able to afford holiday gifts and having to go without them.

Cuozzo recalled the experience of a single mother who missed a few days of work, putting her behind on bills and leaving her without money for Christmas presents for her children. The assistance allowed her to provide gifts while adjusting her budget to cover rent, utilities and groceries.

In another case, a woman named Amanda turned to the program after her husband was injured in a motorcycle accident. His hospitalization and rehabilitation prevented him from working, leaving the family behind on bills and struggling to afford Christmas gifts for their two children.

The program also helps older adults and others facing unexpected household expenses. Rebecca, a senior citizen, saw her electric bill increase during the winter, making it difficult to afford other necessities. Through Give A Christmas, she was able to purchase a warm coat and blankets to help her stay warm.

While the program is primarily intended to help families with holiday expenses, the gift cards offer flexibility for recipients to address their most pressing needs.

“If they had money for Christmas gifts but not for a Christmas meal, they could use the resources from those gift cards as they see fit,” Cuozzo said.

Households with children will receive $200, and households with adults only will receive $100. BCOC staff members meet with recipients when they come to pick up their cards and assess whether they have additional needs that the organization may be able to address.

In some cases, families are connected with other BCOC services, including longer-term programs such as its Economic Self-Sufficiency Program.

Give A Christmas is a partnership between BCOC and the Bucks County Intelligencer that has been in place since 1988. The newspaper originally established the program and later partnered with the nonprofit to administer the assistance and connect donations with families in need. Cuozzo is in his 12th year working with the initiative.

The partnership allows contributions to support BCOC's mission of serving low-income households while providing donors with a tax-deductible way to help local residents.

Donations come primarily from individuals, although area businesses, community groups and churches also contribute. Contributions range from $5 to more than $10,000, Cuozzo said, emphasizing that gifts of every size make a difference.

“An overwhelming majority comes from individuals wanting to make a difference,” he said. “Every bit counts. It’s just a matter of what they are able to contribute.”

Donors appreciate knowing their contributions remain in the local area and help families in their own communities, he added.

The organization began collecting donations in mid-November and will continue accepting contributions through approximately Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. Most donations arrive between mid-November and the end of December.

The program is open to residents of designated school districts in Bucks and Montgomery counties. Eligible Bucks County residents must live within the Council Rock, Central Bucks, Perkasie, Palisades, Quakertown, Centennial or New Hope-Solebury school districts. Montgomery County eligibility includes residents of the Upper Moreland, Lower Moreland and Hatboro-Horsham school districts.

Applicants must provide proof of income and residency and complete an online form to schedule an appointment. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-ins are not accepted. Gift cards are distributed through BCOC's offices in Doylestown and Quakertown after staff members verify applicants' information.

To apply, visit weblink.donorperfect.com/GACHELP2026.

Those wishing to contribute can donate online at akdkpkdn.donorsupport.co/page/GAC26-27. Checks also can be mailed to Bucks County Opportunity Council, 100 Doyle St., Doylestown, PA 18901. Make checks payable to Bucks County Opportunity Council and write “Give A Christmas” in the memo line.

Any funds remaining after the holiday season are used throughout the year to help families facing emergencies, including overdue electric or heating bills, rent payments and other housing-related expenses.

“We hear stories every year from recipients who tell us without this donation they would not have been able to afford to give their children Christmas gifts,” Cuozzo said.

He said donors can be confident their contributions are helping local families enjoy the holidays while also providing a resource for households that may need assistance long after the season ends.

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