The holiday season is a perfect time to count our blessings. But that might be difficult for some people, particularly this year. Prices of everything seem high. And many folks are struggling to secure life’s basic needs for themselves and their loved ones.
Here in the Lehigh Valley we are lucky to have a network of nonprofit organizations to address many of our community’s needs — ranging from food and shelter to health care and education. Yet now, even those organizations are struggling to help the people they serve. High prices and government funding cutbacks are making their jobs much more difficult.
So as we kick off The Morning Call’s 26th annual Be an Angel campaign, I feel almost guilty asking you to dig deep into your pockets to help others, when you might be having a harder time making your own ends meet. My hope is you’ll still manage to dig deep — into your hearts — to find at least one small way to make life better for those who are struggling even more the rest of us.
You can help nonprofits like Community Bikeworks, seen here in 2017, through this year’s Be An Angel campaign. (Cameron Hart/The Morning Call)
And, you’ll definitely be able to find plenty of simple ways to do that on the annual Be an Angel wish list, available at mcall.com/beanangel.
In September, as we do each year, we solicited three wishes from area nonprofits of things they need most to better serve their clients, including our four-legged friends, and compiled them into a lengthy list. We now invite you to earn your angel wings by fulfilling one or more of those wishes.
We know the holidays are demanding, which might make it hard to get around to making charitable donations, so we extend the deadline for making your donations through Jan. 1, 2026. Remember, even the smallest donation makes you an angel to those benefiting from it.
We have experienced rough financial times before in the 26 years since Be an Angel’s inception, yet generous angels always have still found ways to earn their wings.
Your response always has been heartwarming. Each year, angels, you’ve fed, clothed and sheltered the homeless, some of whom live in encampments. You’ve supported organizations that provide medical care to the sick and comfort to the dying. You’ve put bright smiles on the faces of children. You’ve helped schools obtain the tools they need to better teach. You’ve kept at-risk children off the streets and in programs that will shape their future. And you’ve provided food, medical care, shelter, bedding and other basic items to animals in shelters.
The Parkland CARES food pantry, seen in this 2019 file photo, is among the organizations seeking help from the 26th annual Be an Angel campaign. (Amy Shortell / The Morning Call)
In 25 years, the Be an Angel campaign has yielded nearly $6.2 million in donations. Last year alone, angels donated more than $275,400 in tangible goods. And, as always, these numbers don’t include the nearly-impossible-to-calculate value of angels who volunteer their time and skills to worthy causes. Many agencies say volunteers are the most valuable donations of all.
As you read through the list you will see that these are not just frivolous wishes. Each wish list tells a story of need.
Area food pantries are struggling to provide the food needed by the financially strapped families they serve. Northern Lehigh Food Pantry in Slatington needs laundry detergent, paper towels, personal care items and monetary donations to buy much needed items. Parkland C.A.R.E.S Food Bank in Orefield is asking for gift cards that will be used to buy food and toiletry items for the people it serves. Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank hopes for volunteers to work at the bank and businesses and organizations to hold food drives and fundraisers.
“So many families and individuals are feeling the impact of rising costs and limited resources. Donations give us the opportunity to meet people where they are, offering hope, help, and a reminder that they’re not alone,” said Amarelis Rodriguez at Lehigh Conference of Churches in Allentown, one of several agencies providing food and shelter assistance to the homeless and hungry. They need thick blankets, sleeping bags and tents, as well as winter gear, such as hats, scarves, gloves and coats in adult sizes.
New Bethany in Bethlehem, which also supports the homeless community, hopes for winter camping supplies, sleeping bags rated -20 or -40 degrees Fahrenheit, heavy blankets, double-walled tents, heavy waterproof backpacks and men’s and women’s toiletries.
An AARP worker and Chef Chris Clayton in the kitchen Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Lehigh Conference of Churches in Allentown. The nonprofit is seeking assistance through The Morning Call’s Be an Angel campaign. (Jane Therese / Special to The Morning Call)
Helping Hands Ministry in Emerald, which provides food, clothing and financial help to its clients, needs a pallet jack, a commercial food vacuum sealer machine as well as monetary donations to help it buy a refrigerator truck.
Some agencies even welcome gently used items you might have in your closets, garages or basements. Community Bikeworks in Allentown will accept bicycles in any condition for its Earn a Bike program that allows at-risk children to earn a donated bike by learning to rebuild and repair it.
Community Music School in Allentown is looking for new or gently used instruments in playable condition, particularly violins in sizes 1/2 and 3/4 to give to students who cannot afford to purchase an instrument. Satori, also in Allentown, needs functional band and orchestra instruments.
And Cops ‘n’ Kids Children’s Literacy Program in Bethlehem welcomes donations of gently used books as well as new ones to distribute to children across the Valley.
Sometimes the “item” needed is actually a person. Some agencies are asking for volunteers. Northampton County 4-H Center in Nazareth hopes to find someone to provide carpentry and painting services.
Our goal with Be an Angel is to give back to the community by connecting those in need with those who want to help them.
“It truly takes a community coming together to support those facing challenging times,” said Rodriguez of the Conference of Churches.
» VIEW THE 2025 BE AN ANGEL WISHLIST
Irene Kraft is a freelance writer and a former Morning Call editor who started the Be an Angel campaign in 1999.