Gaithersburg Needs Help with Holiday Giving

Gaithersburg’s December Holiday Giving Program needs monetary donations and Target gift cards in $10 and $20 denominations. Thanks to a strong partnership with area congregations, the generosity of community members, and the dedication of more than 70 volunteers, the city of Gaithersburg’s Holiday Giving Program served a record number of families at Thanksgiving.

Donations are now urgently needed to help families for the December holidays, during which the city will be serving more than 2,000 children and their families. The greatest need is for monetary donations and Target gift cards in $10 and $20 denominations.

The November and December initiatives operate in tandem with the countywide Holiday Giving Program to ensure non-duplication of services and efficient use of resources. Gaithersburg coordinates its Holiday Giving program in conjunction with representatives from the Gaithersburg Coalition of Providers, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and Grace United Methodist Church.

In November, families and individuals were served in a variety of ways. Approximately 300 families and four group homes in the city were directly sponsored by schools, churches, businesses and individuals. That represents a 30% increase over 2012. Another 300 Gaithersburg households received donations of food, including meat, vegetables, stuffing and rice at a large distribution event held at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park. Volunteers came from Capital One Bank, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, CCF Vida Abundante Church, and the City’s High School Student Union Program.

Just before Thanksgiving, nearly 60 senior residents at the Oaks at Olde Towne were served a traditional lunch courtesy of High Point Events. City staff members volunteered as servers. Additionally, more than 350 households were served at a community feast on Thanksgiving Day, hosted at Gaithersburg Elementary School and coordinated by Calvary Pentecostal Ministries and Victory Christian Church International in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg. Delivery of meals for those unable to get to the elementary school was also coordinated by the ministries.

To learn more and to explore ways that you can help local residents have a very happy holiday season please visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/communityservices or call 301.258.6395 x2.

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