CLEARFIELD – John Greenleaf Whittier said, “Somehow not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor, and lonely and sad, the more of your heart’s possessing returns to make you glad.”
The Clearfield Borough Police Department and the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. (CCAAA) partnered to create “Giving Trees” for area elderly last Christmas Season and are again teaming up to spread some holiday cheer.
Elderly citizens in the Clearfield area, many of them living alone with no close family members or no family at all, could benefit greatly from a small act of kindness.
Last year, many individuals and organizations came together to provide truckloads of gifts and financial assistance for heating and medical needs. More than $6,000 was collected and sent directly to local fuel suppliers to ensure the frail and elderly were warm in their own homes last winter.
For 2017, the police department and the Area Agency on Aging are partnering again with Clearfield Pharmacy and CVS of Clearfield to host the trees. The employees of the local PennDOT and CBT Bank, a division of Riverview Bank, will also have their own tree and collect internally.
Tags will be hung Nov. 20 at both pharmacies. From Nov. 20 through Dec. 8, a Giving Tree will be available at the Clearfield Pharmacy and at the Clearfield CVS. The Giving Trees will offer the needs of many senior citizens around the area.
Individuals are welcome to take a card, purchase and wrap the needed items on the card and drop off the items and the card at either the Clearfield Borough police station or the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., both located on North Front Street, Clearfield.
“We encourage everyone to please help someone in need this holiday season,” organizers say.
Again this year, a “Giving Tree Fund” at CBT Bank, a division of Riverview Bank, will be available. Anyone wishing to donate to assist the elderly with utility costs (heating assistance, water bills, etc.) this holiday season can drop off a check made out to “Giving Tree Fund” at any CBT office (main or branches).
Receipts will be available for tax purposes. The money collected will then be evenly distributed among those elderly needing this service, free of any administrative charges
The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging and the Clearfield Borough Police Department would again like to say “thank you” in advance to the many community members who will so generously support the Giving Tree.
They would also like to thank Clearfield Pharmacy and CVS of Clearfield for hosting the trees and also to the employees of PennDOT and CBT Bank, a division of Riverview Bank, for their support along with the new partner, ABATE.
“Many senior citizens are often forgotten during the Holiday Season. Let’s make sure they have a great holiday, as well,” organizers say.
“We were so overwhelmed by your kindness and look forward to this year. Thank you for helping us enhance the quality of life for elderly residents throughout the county. We are truly grateful for your generosity.”