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Winter 2009 Newsletter:
Bundling up Lebanon . . . LIVE WARM Collection

Hats, mittens and scarves … oh my!

That’s what the United Way of Lebanon County staff and local agencies were singing this month thanks to the tremendous success of the first ever LIVE WARM collection.  Area businesses, churches, organizations, clubs and individuals collected hats, mittens, gloves and scarves for children and adults starting in mid-November.

40 laundry baskets full of donations were collected and given to area agencies and shelters, such as Lebanon County Christian Ministries, DVI, Agape and the WIC program.

The idea for LIVE WARM, came after the success of the Stuff the Bus school supply collection held this past summer.  Lebanon County residents donated 900 book bags and over 1,000 pounds of school supplies to area schools, after school programs and needy children.

“We feel the LIVE WARM collection [was] so important to our community because there is a huge need,” said
Emily Guilliams, Director of Development and Communications at United Way of Lebanon County.

At an agency roundtable event held last month, Troy Williams,
Executive Director for LCCM, revealed that the agency has seen a
20% increase in the amount of people coming through its doors asking
for clothing.  LCCM staff estimates that 6,000 clothing items are
handed out to needy individuals and families every month.

“LIVE WARM is a way to help ensure that needy Lebanon County
residents can stay warm this winter and save a few extra dollars that
can be put towards the important things – like food and money to pay
or the rising fuel oil bill,” said United Way’s AmeriCorps*VISTA member Megan Hoffa during radio interviews with WQIC’s Steve Todd and
WLBR’s Greg Lyons.

Creative initiatives were undertaken to publicize the LIVE WARM Collection, including the United Way’s entry of a LIVE WARM tree at
the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lebanon County’s Festival
of Trees event held at the Lebanon County Expo, with special thanks
to Campaign Chair Dennis Gearhart for his donation of the entry fee. 
The LIVE WARM tree, which was donned with LIVE UNITED garland, children’s mittens, scarves and hats, complimented a United Way display table in which donations were collected.  Also at the event, organizers
arranged for a special “mitten tree” to be displayed in the lobby of the Expo for donation collection.

Donations were delivered to LCCM by United Way of Lebanon County’s Campaign Cabinet on Wednesday,
December 16 in conjunction with a special visit from the Hershey Bears AHL hockey team.  Each Hershey
Bears player bought a toy for each of 23 children attending the holiday party and hand delivered their present
at LCCM.  Santa Claus and Coco, the Bears’ mascot, also were at LCCM to share in the holiday merriment. 
Below are photos from the LCCM Holiday Party with the Hershey Bears:

The entire Hershey Bears AHL hockey team came to LCCM to give out their gifts. 
Each Bears' player bought a gift for one specific child.

Coco, the Bears' mascot, was a big hit at the holiday party.
Many children enjoyed dancing with Coco and having their picture taken with the holiday festive mascot.

Hershey Bear #32, Greg Amadio, helps his child open her present.

Coco poses with a young boy after receiving his gift from Santa.

Santa Claus was in attendance at the holiday party.
He gave a special holiday gift to each boy and girl.


A young boy tries his best to open up his gift from Santa!

United Way of Lebanon County would like to thank all of the contributors to the LIVE WARM Collection. 
Your support of this project is just one of the many ways that this community LIVES UNITED no matter
 what the season.  Thanks to the success of this year, look for the LIVE WARM Collection next winter.

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United Way of Lebanon County - 2009