JOHNSONBURG - Volunteers in Elk County are working to make Christmas bright for those struggling in their community.
Volunteer Marissa Amspacher said the program started with a generous donation from a secret Santa to buy gifts for local children.
"Then we thought, what else can we do?" Amspacher said.
Volunteer Colleen Lovell had the idea to create food boxes for local families. After the donations kept rolling in, the Christmas Box Program was formed.
“We’ve had so much given to us," Amspacher said. "There's quite the variety of things that will make it so each person that’s getting a box to almost get a few complete meals."
The women said they found the families in need by asking schools, churches and others in town.
They will be providing food, gifts and stockings for 30 families in the Johnsonburg and Wilcox areas.
“We don’t have a lot, but when you get together and someone donates two cans of soup out of their pantry and then somebody else does too, it starts a ripple effect and that’s what happened here," Amspacher said.
Volunteers will be delivering the gifts and food Friday evening.
Those interested in donating or know of a family in need should contact Lovell at 814-594-7557 or Amspacher at 814-335-4298.
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