North Huntingdon church helping those in need; covid increased demand for holiday aid

Some pews in the sanctuary at Calvary Church in North Huntingdon were occupied, though not by parishioners this Christmas week. Instead, they were filled with bags of toys, games and dolls, along with clothing and boxes of nonperishable food for a special meal on Christmas Day.

“I really love it how we are helping people in our community who really need the help,” said Delena Thomas, assistant pastor at Calvary Church and director of the church’s Christmas Cares Program.

The church along Pennsylvania Avenue is helping 46 families in the Norwin area who have a total of 120 children this holiday season through its Christmas Cares Program, said Thomas, who has been assistant pastor for six years. The church has been operating the program for about five years and it continues to expand, she said.

The assistance that will be provided this holiday season is about double the number of people the program helped last year, Thomas said.

She attributes the increase in need to the impact the covid pandemic is having on families. Among the major reasons families listed for why they needed help this year was how covid adversely affected their jobs and the lack of available child care so they could go to work, particularly if their children had to be quarantined, Thomas said. Others lost time at work — and money — when they were infected with covid, Thomas said.

It is a different situation than last year, when many recipients listed a job loss as the reason their household income was reduced to the point they needed help during the holiday.

“It’s still happening today,” Thomas said of the impact of covid on families in the area.

The sanctuary this week had boxes of gifts waiting for families to pick them up and take them home. In addition, 25 families registered to receive nonperishables for their dinner, such as ham or turkey, which the church was able to fulfill, Thomas said.

The families, who come from outside the Calvary Church congregation, began registering in early November for assistance, Thomas said. They listed what they hoped to get for the holiday, items that could be enhanced by a gift to match their interests and hobbies, a child’s clothing size and even hygiene products, Thomas said. Then sponsors — donors willing to fulfill those wishes — volunteered to help a family. Children up to 17 typically are permitted to make a list of what they would like for the holiday, she said.

This year, about 70 families and organizations have stepped up to help those in need, Thomas said. Some donors provided gifts or gift cards and others provided food, Thomas said.

She believes only those truly in need registered for the assistance. Who would register for aid for Christmas and “give up your pride for something you don’t need?” Thomas asked. Many families receiving help do not qualify for other programs that help those in need during the holidays, Thomas said.

“How bad do things have to be that you are requesting toothpaste,” Thomas wondered.