Needy Burlington County families with children have begun receiving electronic gift cards from donations made to the annual Give a Christmas fund.
The Burlington County Times newspaper and the nonprofit New Jersey 211, a 24-hour hotline for community service providers, are co-sponsoring the program.
Of the 560 Burlington County family applications received by NJ 211, nearly 500 were deemed eligible based on income and family size.
“We have already started notifying 492 families of their Amazon e-gift cards and are still sending them out as donations come in. With the care and support of donors, I know we can bring a little Christmas cheer to these children,” said Rae Duncan, NJ 211 Quality Assurance Manager.
Ray also said the 492 eligible family applications represent a 19 percent increase in the number of eligible applicants over last year. Families receive up to four $50 gift cards for children 18 and under, and parents with fewer than four children also receive $50.
In 2021, a total of $58,000 was distributed to eligible applicants, but this year’s donation total is below that figure. As of Friday, the public had donated $47,378.
However, donations are still being accepted and any received after December 25th will be credited to next year’s fund. Donation amounts ranged from a few dollars to $25,000 from one family.
Donors also included community groups such as the Polish-American Citizens Club in Delran, the United Methodist Women of Columbus and the United Methodist Women of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Willingboro. Donors can donate in memory of a loved one or donate anonymously.
Christmas saved the holiday for the family of Rebecca Krit of Browns Mills last year and will save it again this year.
“We almost didn’t have a Christmas last year, and it wouldn’t have been without Give a Christmas, which I used to buy the clothes I needed for my boys,” said Krit, a diner waitress and mother of four, including two under the age of 18. said she is not making as much money at work as she did before the pandemic and is now struggling with rising inflation.
She also applied this year and said she had already received Amazon.com gift cards and spent them on clothes and Christmas stockings.
For more information about Give a Christmas, including how to apply and how to donate, visit burlingtoncountytimes.com/GiveaChristmas.
For more information on NJ 211 services, visit https://www.nj211.org/
Carol Comegno enjoys telling stories about South Jersey life, history and military veterans for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. If you have a story to share, please call her at 609-533-0306 or email ccomegno@gannettnj.com.
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