A program in Clarion County that brings smiles to many faces during the Christmas season also ensures those in need will have the necessary items that are essential to daily life.
“Pennies from Heaven offers more than Christmas presents,” volunteer coordinator Renee Vowinckel said.
Among items available to those in need, Vowinckel said, are blankets, clothes, hats, gloves, socks, underwear, books, coloring books, crayons, games, toys, laundry detergent, hygienic items, wrapping paper and tape.
“In 2017 we served about 248 families, and in 2018 we served 276 people in 134 families,” Vowinckel said.
Clarion County parents with children under the age of 13 can register by calling Community Action at (814) 226-4785, through Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
However, Vowinckel said, if children are signed up for Christmas assistance through another organization, church or school they will not be eligible for assistance through Pennies from Heaven.
Vowinckel said students in the Clarion-Limestone Area School District last year donated money they had raised to Pennies from Heaven instead of conducting their own gift distribution.
“We want to help the working families who may be going through a rough stretch,” she said. “They are really trying to make it and are struggling.”
Vowinckel said there are about about 50 to 60 volunteers who show up on distribution day.
“Some will work all day and some just for a few hours,” she said. “We are always looking for volunteers.”
Vowinckel said what “really keeps me going” is when people who had received help in the past volunteer to help with distribution.
“Those (Abraxas) kids are just great,” Vowinckel said.
Wal-Mart in Monroe Township, she said, provides shopping carts and walkie-talkies for distribution day.
“That way, we can just call the warehouse and tell them what we need on the distribution floor,” Vowinckel said. “We have even had Wal-Mart employees volunteer to help.”
The Zion Church, she said, not only offers help with the distribution of gifts but also with storage space, as Pennies from Heaven accepts donations year-round.
“That way, I can shop sales to maximize the use of our funds,” Vowinckel said.