Press release from The Community YMCA

Local residents and businesses are invited to help make the holidays brighter for struggling families in Monmouth County, by giving to The Community YMCA’s annual holiday gift drive.

Coordinated by the Y’s Counseling and Social Services branch, the gift drive helps to ensure that many of county’s neediest children and their families can experience the joy and surprise of the holiday season, in the words of coordinator Christina DeAngelis.

According to DeAngelis, in 2015 the Y was able to distribute nearly $60,000 in gifts to 407 children and 180 families served by the Y’s Counseling and Social Services branch — thanks to the generous support of the community, and of businesses like Sea Lane Shipping of Red Bank, whose employees are pictured participating in the initiative for the fifth consecutive year.

There are many ways to support the holiday gift drive, DeAngelis said, noting that all gifts are personally delivered to the families and are tax-deductible.

Adopt-a-Family

Community members may “adopt” a family or child and help provide gifts from their “wish lists.”  Anyone who would like to participate in the Adopt-a-Family program will be able to choose a child or family.

Gift Donations

Unwrapped toys and gift cards are welcomed and may be dropped off at the following Y locations until Dec. 16:

• Family Health & Wellness Center, 166 Maple Ave., Red Bank
• Counseling & Social Services, 613 Hope Road, Building 4, 2nd Floor, Eatontown

Amazon Wish List 

Purchase a child’s gift from the Y’s Wish List on Amazon.com. To view the Wish List, simply go to www.amazon.com, click on “Wish List” in the right hand corner, enter the following e-mail address in the Search for Wish List box: cdeangelis@cymca.org.

Giving Tree

Local businesses are invited to display a “giving tree” and encourage their employees to participate by selecting an ornament with a child’s gift wish, and returning the gift by December 16.

For more information on how you can donate or set up a “giving tree,” please call (732)544-4544, ext. 522.