Need Holiday Assistance? Want to Help Others? Here's Where to Call.
News Release: December 4, 2008
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

If you and your family need assistance this holiday season or if you want to make the holidays a little brighter for others but don’t know who to call, American Red Cross Valley Wide Help has the answer. Red Cross Valley Wide Help, an information and referral service of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, has compiled a list of area agencies and organizations providing assistance to families this holiday season and those seeking donations.

For the most up-to-date information, call Red Cross Valley Wide Help at (610) 435-7111 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.


Agencies holding holiday meals, events:

Allentown

Everlasting Life Ministries, Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, 224 North Sixth Street, Allentown; 610-776-4009; Saturday, Dec. 20, at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

New Generation Day Care, 712 West Linden Street (side entrance), Allentown; 610-434-2456; Friday, Dec. 26, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Ecumenical Soup Kitchen/Catholic Charities, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 179 Chew Street, Allentown; 610-435-1541; Sunday, Dec. 28, at 1:30 p.m.

Lehigh County Conference of Church's Soup Kitchen, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 36 South Eighth Street, Allentown; 610-433-6421; Christmas Day dinner, from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Allentown YMCA and YWCA, 425 South 15th Street, Allentown; 610-434-9333; Christmas Day dinner, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; call to make a reservation. Event open to Allentown residents; Santa will be there with gifts for the children.


Bethlehem

Bethlehem Salvation Army, 521 Pembroke Road, Bethlehem; 610-867-4681; Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m.-noon. Breakfast with Santa that will include a picture with Santa and a small gift. Please call for a reservation.

New Bethany Ministries, 333 Fourth Street, Bethlehem; 610-691-5602; Christmas Day Brunch, from 11 a.m.-noon.

South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center, 700 Evans Street, Bethlehem; 610-865-2791; Wednesday, Dec. 10. A Christmas Store will be available where children may shop for gifts for family and friends. Clients invited from 4 p.m.-5 p.m.; public invited from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Trinity Soup Kitchen, 44 East Market Street, Bethlehem; 610-867-4741; Christmas Day dinner, from noon-1 p.m., for residents of the north side of Bethlehem.


Easton

Boys and Girls Club of Easton, 1101 Northampton Street, Easton; 610-253-5846; Saturday, Dec. 20; Holiday party for children ages 5 to 12. (Ages 5-9: noon -2 p.m.; Ages 10-12: 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.); No fee if member of club; non-members: $10.00 (includes club membership). Must pre-register by Dec. 16.

Jacob’s Christmas, Trinity Episcopal Church, 234 Spring Garden Street, Easton; Christmas Day Worship at 10 a.m.; The Third Street Alliance, 41 North Third Street, Easton; Christmas Day dinner at noon; doors open at 11 a.m. Call Sister Patty at 610-253-0792.


Fogelsville

Spirit of the Lehigh Valley, Holiday Inn Fogelsville, I-78 and Route 100 South, Fogelsville; 610-391-1000; Christmas Eve buffet begins at 11 a.m. and includes holiday entertainment and a visit from Santa and much more. Call to volunteer your time, talent or treasure.

Free bus pick-up. To reserve a seat and receive an invitation, contact one of the following agencies:

Allentown: Boys Club, 610-432-9323; Hispanic American Organization, 610-435-5334; Program for Women and Families, 610-433-6556; Salvation Army, 610-432-0129

Bethlehem: Community Services for Children, 610-437-6000; New Bethany Ministries, 610-691-5602; Salvation Army, 610-867-4681; South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center, 610-865-2791; Turning Point, 610-797-0530; Victory House, 610-691-3373

Easton: Boys and Girls Club of Easton, 610-253-5846; Easton Area Neighborhood Center, 610-253-4253; ProJeCt of Easton, 610-258-4361; Salvation Army, 610-258-9531

NOTE: Each individual or family MUST have an invitation to present to the bus driver and/or at the entrance to the Holiday Inn Fogelsville.


Agencies offering holiday assistance:

Toys For Tots

Allentown: Salvation Army, 610-432-0129

Bethlehem: Salvation Army, 610-867-4681

Easton: Salvation Army, 610-258-9531

Pen Argyl: Salvation Army, 610-863-6677


Allentown

City Limits Assembly of God, 302 Ridge Avenue, Allentown; Christmas trees to be distributed on Friday, Dec. 12 beginning at 7 p.m. Hot drinks, hot dogs and live Christmas music will also be provided to those who attend the outreach program. Call Rita Lilly at 610-776-8656.


Organizations requesting donation of items, volunteer time:

Aids Activities Office – Donations of gifts/food for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS for their “Christmas Angel” program. Call Erin Shay at 610-969-4266.

Allentown Rescue Mission – Donations of gift certificates specifically from Giant Food Stores, Redner’s Warehouse Markets and Wal-Mart. Also donations of male personal care items along with the donations of cleaning and paper products such as disposable cups, cutlery and plates; large trash bags; laundry detergent; paper towels; spray cleaners and toilet paper. Call Bill Dickinson at 610-740-5500.

Boys and Girls Club of Allentown– Donations of age-appropriate gifts for children ages 5 through 14 to be distributed at holiday parties. Deadline for donations is Dec. 12. Call Deb Fries-Jackson at 610-432-9944.

Boys and Girls Club of Easton – Donations of age-appropriate gifts for children ages 5 through 12 to be distributed at a holiday party. Donations need to be delivered to the agency by Dec. 19; 610-253-5846.

Daybreak – Donations of new adult socks, blankets, extra large T-shirts or sweatshirts, gloves, hats, toiletry items including family-size hygiene products and a floor buffer. Also looking for individuals and groups who would be willing to volunteer to prepare meals and/or to do scheduled craft activities with members. Call Christine Morrison at 610-820-5049.

Dream Come True– Gifts for children for a holiday party to be held Dec. 21. Call Rayann at 610-509-4019.

Easton Area Neighborhood Center – Donations of blankets, hats, gloves, hams, turkeys and non-perishable food items. Call Deborah Brown at 610-253-4253.

Everlasting Life Ministries – Donations of cooked turkeys (in disposable tins), baked goods, gifts for children, money and time to support a community holiday dinner being held Saturday, Dec. 20. Persons wishing to volunteer at the dinner should arrive by 11 a.m. for the first seating beginning at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for the second seating beginning at 3:30 p.m. Call Reverend Gus Al-Khal at 610-434-1477 or 610-776-4009.

Grace Community Foundation (Food Pantry) – Donations of non-perishable food items along with baby items such as baby food, diapers and formula. Call Patty at 610-435-7245.

Hogar Crea– Donations of toys and clothing for children and women ages 20 through 50. Both new and used items accepted. Also the donation of female personal care items. Call 610-866-3442.

Jacob’s Christmas – Monetary and food donations and volunteers needed for Christmas Day meal to be held at The Third Street Alliance, 41 North Third Street, Easton; sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton. Doors open at 11 a.m., meal served at noon. Call Sister Patty at 610-253-0792.

Lehigh County Conference of Churches – Requesting the following adult items: Bar soap, blankets, combs, deodorant, female hygiene products, gloves, hand lotion, hats, men’s socks, new or clean/used underwear, pony tail holders, razors, scarves, shampoo, shaving cream, small hand towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste. Children: Coloring books, crayons, puzzles, etc. Infant/Toddler Items: Baby bottles, diapers in sizes 3, 4, and 5; and lotion. Call Ira Faro at 610-433-6421. Note: J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, 16th and Hamilton Streets, Allentown, is a drop-off point for the above items. Donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Contact Sonya Siegfried at J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home with any questions.

Lehigh County Conference of Churches Soup Kitchen – Requesting donations of fresh food, large trash bags, and paper products. Call 610-433-6421.

Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth Services – In need of gift cards for teens. Suggestions: Best Buy, Boscov’s, Burger King, Circuit City, Kmart, Lehigh Valley Mall, McDonalds, Target, Wal-Mart and any of the local movie theaters. Also baby items such as bottles, diapers, newborn clothing, winter blankets and gift certificates from stores where formula may be purchased, along with age-appropriate non-violent toys. Call Tracy Shiffert at 610-782-3303.

Linkage Street Outreach – Requesting donations of long-burning candles, outdoor flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, thermal underwear, socks, winter hats and work gloves. Call Ben Stevens at 484-664-7320, ext. 15.

New Bethany Ministries – Donations of turkeys and food items to fill baskets to be given to families. Also in need of unwrapped toys for children. Donations needed by Dec. 15. Call Ellen Jacoby at 610-691-5602.

Northeast Ministries – Donations of coats and gloves for both adults and children. Call 610-691-3355.

Pathways – Donations of deodorant, diapers in sizes 3, 4, and 5, shampoo/conditioner, soap and toothpaste for low-income and homeless families; call 610-433-6421.

ProJeCt of Easton, Inc. – Donations of disposable diapers, sizes 4 and 5, along with hooded sweatshirts in sizes large and extra large, and socks. Donations of food for the food pantry. Puzzles, games and toys for children ages 6 months to 5 years, children’s picture books with audio cassettes and book bags for the literacy program. Call Stephanie Polak at 610-258-4361, ext. 20.

Rejoice– Donations of toys, children’s clothing and items suitable for teens. Contact organization directly and ask for their “wish list.” Call Karen Palonis at 610-439-1990.

Sacred Heart Visiting Nurse Association – Monetary donations in order to purchase gifts for children of clients, along with the donation of non-perishable food items. Call Joanne Marzola at 610-871-2802.

Safe Harbor – Call for “Wish List” that includes food, clothing, personal care and monetary donations; 610-258-5540.

Sixth Street Shelter – Donations of infant/toddler items such as diapers, food and formula along with cleaning supplies and laundry detergent. Call Jenny or Marcia at 610-435-1490.

South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center – In need of new, donated items that will be used to stock shelves of a holiday store where children may shop for gifts for family and friends. Donations of food both non-perishable and perishable including meats to stock the food pantry. Call 610-865-2791.

Spirit of Lehigh Valley – Volunteer your time, talent or treasure to support this event: free dinner buffet. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at Holiday Inn Fogelsville, Routes 100 & I-78, Fogelsville. Especially needed are gifts for older children and teens. Also accepting food donations such as dinner rolls and desserts along with donations of toiletries such as toothbrushes, hats, gloves and scarves. Call George Pitsilos at 610-530-4604; volunteers should call 610-530-4623.

Spring Garden Children’s Center – Donations of games, puzzles, school items and age appropriate educational toys for children who attend the center ages 3 months through 10 years of age. Call Pat Hunter at 610-252-0559.

The Caring Place Youth Development Center – Donations of children’s coats, hats, gloves, food and snack items. Call Sally Boyer at 610-433-5683.

The Salvation Army of Allentown – Donations of new, unwrapped toys for children 12 years and younger needed by Dec. 16. Volunteer bell-ringers are also needed. Call Major Carol Duperree at 610-432-0129.

The Salvation Army of Bethlehem– Turkeys, chickens and canned hams are needed to fill holiday food baskets. Volunteers needed to pack the baskets. Also accepting donations of non-perishable food items. Donations of clothing, diapers, formula, shampoo, soap and toys. Donations may be dropped off weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at 521 Pembroke Road. Volunteer kettle bell-ringers needed along with volunteers for the Toys for Tots toy distribution. Call 610-867-4681.

The Salvation Army of Easton – Donations of non-perishable food items especially holiday foods such as cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes and juice. Also accepting donations of turkeys and other meats such as hams and chickens frozen or canned. Donations of books to fill the shelves of the Children’s Library. Volunteer kettle bell ringers needed. Call 610-258-9531.

The Salvation Army of Pen Argyl – Donations of non-perishable food items along with the donation of new toys. Volunteer kettle bell ringers needed. Call 610-863-6677.

The Salvation Army of Schuylkill and Carbon counties – Donations of non-perishable food items needed. Call 570-668-0410.

The Third Street Alliance for Women and Children – Donations of supplies to support the programs of adult day care, child care, recreation and the homeless shelter for women and children. Call Emigh Allison at 610-258-6271.

Trinity Soup Kitchen– Donations of boneless hams and cash contributions to be used towards the purchase of Christmas gifts. Call Liz Miller at 610-867-4741, ext. 302.

Turning Point of Lehigh Valley – Donations of new gift items for women and children -- especially for teen boys along with gift certificates for teens and food baskets and food store gift cards for Turning Point’s “non-designated gift program.” Also asking for the donations of new or “like new” twin and double mattress and box spring sets. Call Sandy Hall-Brown at 610-797-0530.

Valley Youth House – Gift certificates for teens for bookstores, fast food, local games/outings, music and clothing stores. Also donations of T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts including gloves, mittens, winter hats, socks, belts, and underwear along with watches, journals, bead kits, gimp kits, arts and crafts and body sprays. Art supplies needed for day program. Call 610-691-1200.


To ‘adopt a family or individual,’ contact:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley – Call Dara Kelly at 610-391-1827, ext. 16 (family).

Boys and Girls Club of Allentown – Call Deb Fries-Jackson at 610-432-9944 (family).

Boys and Girls Club of Easton – Call 610-253-5846 (family).

Camelot for Children – Call JoEllen Moll at 610-791-5683 (family).

Daybreak – Call Christine Morrison at 610-820-5049 to sponsor a participant in the Daybreak “Angel” program.

Easton Area Neighborhood Center – Call 610-253-4253 (family).

Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth Services – Call Tracy Shiffert at 610-782-3673 (family).

New Bethany Ministries– Call Ellen Jacoby at 610-691-5602 (family).

Sixth Street Shelter – Call 610-435-1490 (family).

South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center – Call Angelica Baez at 610-865-2791 (family).

Spring Garden Children’s Center – Call Dottie Nolasco at 610-252-0559 (family).

The Caring Place Youth Development Center – Call Sally Boyer at 610-433-5683 (family).

The Salvation Army of Allentown– Call Major Carol Duperree at 610-432-0129 (family). The Adopt-A-Family program is where organizations, groups, or individuals sponsor a disadvantaged family for Christmas. Adopt-A-Family differs from our other Christmas programs because it provides a complete Christmas for the entire family. You are given the first names of all family members, age, sex, and clothing sizes, plus a wish list of gifts. You then shop for each member of the family you adopted. The wrapped gifts are returned to The Salvation Army on Dec. 19 and the family comes to pick up their gifts in the afternoon of the same day. Sponsors can also include food for the family’s Christmas meal or a grocery store gift card if they are able to do so. The Angel Tree program allows individuals in the community to help out a specific child with a Christmas wish. Sponsor a tree at your worksite, church, etc. Angel tags list a child, their sex, age, and gift wish. New, unwrapped “Angel” gifts (with the tags attached securely) should be brought to The Salvation Army by Dec. 12. Toy or food collections/drives are appreciated as well.

The Salvation Army of Bethlehem – Call Captains Harry and Madelaine Dwier at 610-867-4681. The Angel Tree program allows individuals in the community to help out a specific child with a Christmas wish. Volunteer workplaces needed to sponsor a tree. Family sponsors needed for the Adopt-A-Family program.

The Salvation Army of Easton – Call 610-258-9531. The Angel Tree program allows individuals in the community to help out a specific child with a Christmas wish. Volunteer workplaces needed to sponsor a tree. Family sponsors needed for the Adopt-A-Family program.

The Salvation Army of Pen Argyl– Call 610-863-6677. The Angel Tree program allows individuals in the community to help out a specific child with a Christmas wish. Volunteer workplaces needed to sponsor a tree. Family sponsors needed for the Adopt-A-Family program.

The Salvation Army of Schuylkill and Carbon counties – Call Esther or Captains Gary and Joyce Thorton at 570-668-0410. Sponsors needed for the Angel Tree program.

Third Street Alliance for Women and Children – Call Emigh Allison at 610-258-6271 (family).


American Red Cross Valley Wide Help is a free information and referral service offering direct provision of information about social and human services. Trained information specialists use a comprehensive computerized database of nearly 2,000 referral sources to identify specific organizations that may be of assistance to area residents. Accessibility of information is ensured through the availability of six dedicated telephone numbers, bilingual services to Spanish-speaking callers and a text telephone system for the hearing impaired.

Calls to Valley Wide Help are answered Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, calls are answered through a voice mail system that offers a menu of referrals to address callers’ needs in an emergency situation. For non-emergencies, the voice mail system offers callers the option of leaving a message and requesting a return call. Valley Wide Help can be directly reached at: Allentown: (610) 435-7111; Bethlehem: (610) 691-8711; Easton: (610) 252-4357; Slate Belt: (610) 588-5512; Spanish: (610) 866-1089; TTY/TTD: (610) 866-0131.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 690,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.