The arrival of December means the Holiday season is upon us. It also signals another arrival; the daily delivery of catalogs and gift guides in our mailboxes, both digital and analog, showcasing marketing mastery aimed at winning our hearts, minds, and most importantly, our budgets.
‘Tis the season, and so it goes, but this month I wanted to focus on a different sort of holiday giving guide; one that points the Christmas lights towards local organizations that would benefit from any extra goodwill and spirit we can spare, and all highly worthy of being on our recipient list of gifts. While these groups can use our help year-round, our assistance, whether in time or money, will make this season happier and healthier for those who need it most, no matter what contribution we can make with our hours or dollars.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley: Since 1971, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been creating one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth across the Lehigh Valley. Their tagline says it all: “We don’t create potential. We defend it.” Serving children ages 7-18 through community-based mentoring, school-based programs and specialized initiatives like Sports Buddies and STEAM Club, they match caring adult mentors (Bigs) with young people (Littles) who need positive role models in their lives. With 100 kids currently on their waiting list, the need has never been greater. Research shows that 95 percent of their Littles improve family connections and 90 percent improve social skills. Whether volunteers commit to meeting a few times a month or high school students provide mentorship to elementary children, Big Brothers Big Sisters proves that defending potential changes lives, one match at a time.
Second Harvest Food Bank: Serving over 110,000 people monthly across six counties, including Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon, the organization works to eliminate food insecurity by providing nutritious food to those in need. Operating through a network of more than 200 partner agencies, they believe access to healthy food is a human right. Recently facing significant federal funding cuts, Second Harvest has had to adapt and rely more heavily on community support to keep shelves stocked. They also offer nutrition education programs and operate specialized initiatives, such as the PA Senior Food Box Program, ensuring that our most vulnerable residents don’t have to choose between paying rent and feeding their families.
Turning Point of Lehigh Valley: Reaching nearly 4,000 people annually across Lehigh and Northampton counties, Turning Point provides critical support to survivors of domestic and intimate partner abuse. Their comprehensive services include a confidential 24-hour helpline, an emergency safe-house shelter, empowerment counseling, legal advocacy and medical support. With demand for emergency services increasing significantly in recent years, Turning Point offers not just temporary refuge, but a pathway to safety and independence. They provide approximately 18,000 nights of safe shelter annually to adults and children fleeing abuse, while their community education programs work toward their ultimate mission: eliminating domestic violence in the Lehigh Valley through survivor empowerment and community engagement.
Community Bike Works: Teaching life lessons through bicycles since 1995, Community Bike Works serves approximately 600 young people annually across the Lehigh Valley. Their flagship “Earn a Bike” program pairs students ages 9-18 with adult mentors for hands-on courses in bike mechanics, safety and life skills. Over 5,000 students have learned teamwork, perseverance and problem-solving while building their own refurbished bicycles. Operating hubs in Allentown’s Keck Park and Franklin Park, plus Easton’s West Ward, Community Bike Works goes beyond bicycles to offer after-school enrichment and youth leadership development. A student quote on their site sums it up: “Community Bike Works is more than learning how bikes work. It’s learning how life works.”
iHave iNeed: Founded in 2023 by Schnecksville couple Jeffrey and Jennifer McCary, iHave iNeed tackles two critical problems simultaneously: reducing waste and feeding those in need. This all-volunteer nonprofit rescues thousands of pounds of surplus food and essential items from local businesses, bakeries, restaurants and retailers that would otherwise end up in landfills, and redistributes them to food pantries, homeless services and families facing hardship throughout the Lehigh Valley. Using the Food Rescue USA app to coordinate volunteers for pickups and deliveries, they’ve built partnerships with businesses like Wawa and local bakeries, while serving organizations such as Operation Address the Homeless. Currently operating out of their own garage and living room, iHave iNeed is fundraising for a van and warehouse space to expand their lifesaving work, proving that preventing waste and feeding neighbors can go hand in hand. (You may have seen the front-page Morning Call article on Dec. 2 about the fantastic work they are doing.)
This list represents only a handful of very worthy choices. Many organizations are doing tireless work that needs our help and I encourage you to use this link to an interactive local map of dozens more, where you can learn more. If you are willing to lend a hand, you will find no shortage of people happily reaching for it: Volunteer Center of Lehigh Valley Opportunity Map.
Each of these organizations transforms lives every single day in the Lehigh Valley. Whether you can spare a few hours to volunteer or a few dollars to donate, your gift is sure to make a meaningful difference right here in our own community, and it’s tough to think of a better way to end this year. (On second thought, the only way to beat that is if your New Year’s resolution was to keep on helping into 2026!)