THANK YOU!  2017 Contributors and Sponsors

Please consider Sponsoring AND Donating TO CHILDREN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

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Winter Clothes and Holiday Gifts for Underprivileged Westmoreland County Children

Every winter season, in association with many donors and community members, the Westmoreland Children First is able to provide holiday gifts and coats to needy children in Westmoreland County.  The number of children vary from year to year pending how many families are under the care of the Westmoreland County Children's Bureau.  Caseworkers of the Bureau identify the families in need for these gifts and coats.  The number of children typically served by this program is between 700 and 1200 every year.

Many individuals and organizations are crucial to this effort.  The E.C. Cruisers has been donating the proceeds of its annual fundraiser to this cause, covering approximately half the cost of all the winter coats and gifts. In addition to the E.C. Crusiers sponsorship, the WCF holds a Wine and Chocolate Gala, held every October, to raise additional money for this program and for other essential needs throughout the year. First Commonwealth Bank, Excela Health, LECOM, and St. Vincent College are major sponsors of the gala. While these two contributing events are helpful, the need for holiday gifts and coats still is larger than our funds.  Each year the WCF relies on the many individuals and groups that purchase gifts for the children.  These individuals and groups are very important contributors and they span churches, schools, service clubs, medical facilities, professional firms, and many generous individuals. Without these additional contributions, it would be very difficult to meet the county's need.  Please consider purchasing gifts for a child this season.  See below for the ways you can help contribute and to make a child's holiday special. 
There are two ways you can help. Please click below your choice for helping underprivileged children.

Click below to donate to a needy child's holiday gifts and clothing.  Your donation will go 100% to the child(ren) and the Saint Vincent College education students will "wrap & deliver" on your behalf to the WCCB caseworkers in time for the holidays (FREE).
Click below to become a direct sponsor for a child in which you will purchase the requested items, wrap, and deliver personally to the WCCB at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.

Saint Vincent College Education Department's Partnership with the Westmoreland Children First

Every fall, WCCB caseworkers identify children under the bureau’s care who need winter essentials — coats, boots, gloves, and hats. The Westmoreland Children First then:
  • Funds a shopping excursion to the K-Mart in Latrobe, which stocks a large supply of coats for this purpose and offers a deep discount for these purchases.
  • WCF Board members, WCCB staff, and students from the Saint Vincent Early Childhood Education Club, Education Club, Equestrian Club, and Kappa Delta Pi gather at 6am on a Saturday morning to accomplish the shopping before the K-Mart opens to customers later that morning.
  • In addition to the winter clothing, the designated shoppers select modest holiday gifts for children who might otherwise not have any holiday presents. 
  • The next day, the Saint Vincent students wrap all the items and sort them for distribution and deliver them to the caseworkers.
  • The caseworkers then distribute the packages to the needy families.
  • Saint Vincent College students fund raise to purchase all the wrapping paper and stocking "extras" to make the packages complete!