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OPERATION HELPING HAND Operation Helping Hand is a one day collection of non perishable food to help families in Bucks County in emergency need. Last year's effort resulted in the collection of 63,035 pounds of food by students in all the public school districts, private schools, and senior citizen centers.
THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY FOOD IN BUCKS COUNTY... The people helped are families with children who are having difficulty just making ends meet and who need emergency assistance including food. There is an ongoing increasing need for food assistance in Bucks County. Families who need assistance from a food cupboard include single parent households, many headed by women; disabled persons; the elderly; and other temporarily financially distressed families. When you live on a low income, any crisis -- changes in work situation, unexpected medical bills, higher heating bills -- can leave your family with very little money and no food. WHY SUPPORT OPERATION HELPING HAND? As residents of Bucks County, we take pride in this beautiful place that we call home. Unfortunately, that beauty leads several people to believe that there are no needy in our community. On the contrary, there are those among us who struggle daily to make ends meet. The high cost of housing, the limited availability of living wage employment, and the lack of public transportation make it very difficult for a low-income family to survive. With the current economic downturn, these families are hurting more than ever. Our three basic needs are food, clothing and shelter. Through Operation Helping Hand, you and your schools help feed the families that simply can not afford to put food on the table for their children. These people are your neighbors and your students, and they sincerely appreciate your help. HOW THE FOOD COLLECTION CAN EDUCATE SCHOOL STUDENTS... Operation Helping Hand serves as an educational tool to sensitize students to the reality that people here in Bucks County are in need of emergency services and assistance from human service agencies. It provides students with the opportunity to help people less fortunate than themselves, and be aware of the needs of others in their own community. It creates a sense of caring and sharing. It can motivate students to seek solutions to the problems of poverty and hunger. THE AGENCIES AND PANTRIES WHO RECEIVE THE FOOD... (Listed below are the agency locations. Service areas include larger geographic areas.) • A Woman's Place, Doylestown United Way of Bucks County coordinates Operation Helping Hand along with the above agencies and pantries. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT... This Information Sheet has been prepared by the Operation Helping Hand Committee
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