The holiday season is a busy and magical time, but there are many in our community who could use a helping hand. In the spirit of kindness, generosity, and fellowship, we’ve researched lots of opportunities for your family to get involved with a good cause, volunteer your time and resources, and spread joy to those who need it most.
OUR OWN COMMUNITY AID CALENDAR
Where You Can Find: Resources for health and wellness, mental health, free food & meals, clothing, hygiene products, diaper giveaways, holiday assistance, career help and more!
Some events on this calendar are shared via the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency Food Resources Calendar. Looking for more community support? Visit the Union-Snyder Action Agency website for help with for help with food, housing, energy, and more. If you live in Columbia, Montour or Northumberland counties, please visit the Central Susquehanna Opportunities website.
🧸Toys for Tots- Local Drives
The mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas.
North Shore Railroad | Toys for Tots Drive
These cool, little cars- called NARCOA Speeders- will travel up our NSHR line – from Northumberland, through Danville and Bloomsburg, to Berwick, and return. Anyone is welcome to come alongside the railroad tracks to meet the speeder drivers and hand them a new, unwrapped toy for the drive.
Union County Industrial Railroad | Toys for Tots Drive
Join the NARCOA Speeders on the Union County Industrial Railroad!
Cars will travel the UCIR – from New Columbia, to Allenwood, then through Lewisburg to Winfield, and return. Anyone is welcome to meet the speeder drivers and hand them a new, unwrapped toy for the drive at the designated stops.
Donate to Toys for Tots at Journey Bank Locations
You can also donate toys at other times to your local Toys for Tots chapter
🎁Samaritan’s Purse- Operation Christmas Child
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations.
Every year since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 209 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expression of God’s love.
Collection week is early to mid November each year. Local drop off locations are available in Bloomsburg, Berwick, Elysburg, Lewisburg, Mifflingburg, Milton, Muncy, Sunbury, Winfield, & Williamsport!
💝Wreaths Across America
Colleen Marion champions this event in Danville, and has over 2,800 wreaths ready to be laid on veteran’s graves in 39 cemeteries. Part of the mission of this program is to teach children the value of freedom.
Ceremony: December 13, 12pm, @ Odd Fellows Cemetery (Danville)
National Website
Theme for 2025: “Keep Moving Forward”
Info for Elan Memorial Park (Bloomsburg)
Colleen’s Tips:
- They need LOTS of volunteers
- Rain or Shine
- Arrive early if possible
- Once you have a wreath you will go up to a headstone with a flag (denoting veteran), say the person’s name and then a short thank you or prayer
- There will be a fellowship gathering afterwards with soup & hot beverages as a thank you to all volunteers
🌟The Brighter Christmas Fund
The Brighter Christmas Fund was launched in 1985 by Press Enterprise Chairman Paul R. Eyerly III as a campaign focused on giving back to the local community. Since its conception, the paper’s readers donated more than $2 million to help families in need during the holiday season.
The Brighter Christmas Fund joined the Community Giving Foundation‘s family of funds in 2019, passing off administrative functions once based in the newspaper’s business office. Your gift helps provide charitable grants to nonprofit agencies to support those in need in our community during the holiday season.
🎶Music Together of Bloomsburg: Nurse Family Partnership
Kerry Kenny, Music Together of Bloomsburg“Music Together of Bloomsburg has set up a Scholarship Fund to work locally with Nurse Family Partnership and offer classes to families who normally may not have the expendable income to attend. I believe everyone should have a joyful parenting experience and music can always help with that!
The partnership of Music Together of Bloomsburg and NFP will provide new moms with the positivity, confidence, and tools they need to not only assure a healthy start for their babies, but to envision a life of stability and opportunities for success for both mom and child. Any monetary amount is just fine!”
🎄Salvation Army Service Centers
BLOOMSBURG
“We are specifically busy during the months of October-December when we are in need of volunteers for our Red Kettle and Angel Tree programs, but we can always use volunteers and businesses who are interested in giving their time at our smaller events throughout the year.”
Contact: Alicia Lindenmuth
Email or 570-387-4112
MILTON, LEWISBURG, WATSONTOWN AREAS
Contact: Valerie Harris
Email or 570-742-4231
LOCAL SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE COLLECTION LOCATIONS
Walmart (Multiple locations- Buckhorn, Shamokin/Sunbury, and more)
Journey Bank (Multiple Branches)
Thomas Beaver Free Library (Danville)
DCDC Childcare Centers (Danville)
Multiple Restaurants: Bandit’s Roadhouse & Tiffany’s Subs (Berwick); Applebee’s, Tiffany’s Downtown, & Unida Pizza (Bloomsburg); Tiffany’s Subs (Orangeville)
🫶Youth in Philanthropy
Are you interested in having your high schooler learn about community giving and local nonprofits? Below is information about the amazing Youth in Philanthropy program!
Youth in Philanthropy is a philanthropic-oriented education program offered by the Community Giving Foundation. The purpose of the program is for youth to understand the meaning of philanthropy, learn about the local nonprofit world, and take part in the grantmaking process. Through this program, students are empowered to make a positive impact in their communities now and in the future.
Other Organizations and Events We Love:
Good Samaritan (Danville): Donate new and gently used clothes, sheets, & towels.
Dwell Orphan Care (Bloomsburg): Donate items for children entering foster care in our area.
Meals on Wheels (Bloomsburg): Have your child help you deliver meals.
Ronald McDonald House (Danville): Donate to the Season of Giving drive, host a meal, contribute to a wish list, and lots more options to help families in need.
TreeFest (Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble): A fun event where they also hold a food and toy drive every year. They also collect food at their Food Preview performance for the holiday show.
AGAPE Love From Above to Our Community (Bloomsburg): Collecting gift certificates for people in need; year round programs to help our community via donations, drives, and more.
SUN Area Technical Institute Food & Hygiene Drive
Columbia County Traveling Library Food Drive
Adopt a Senior Program
Jeralee’s Toy Drive
Drop off locations include:
Berwick: Sean Black- State Farm, The Goose Bar & Grill, Locks by Lemons
Bloomsburg: New Bloomsburg Diner, M&M Carpet, Martha’s Pet Supply, Pro Rehab, Suntex Dry Cleaners, Bloom Naturally, Fort McClure VFW Post 804, Strike a Pose Dance Studio, Wild for Salmon, WW Evans Elementary
Catawissa: Catawissa Chiropractic & Vito’s Pizza
Dunmore: USA Metal Roofs
Legacy Dental Toy Drive (Danville)
Collecting toys to benefit Janet Weis Children’s Hospital
Drop-off location in Danville
The Women’s Center- Columbia Montour Counties
Year-round Volunteer Opportunities
The Susquehanna Valley United Way has a plethora of volunteering and service opportunities listed on their website; check it out for lots of institutions and foundations that are looking for helping hands!