Less than four years ago, 8-year-old Sierra Klug of Fleetwood, PA began bringing cheer to kids living with cancer. Shortly after, Gifts of Cheer, a local all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization was formed and distributed thousands of gifts to kids with cancer, their families, as well as to many other recipients in need of some cheer.
Although Gifts of Cheer’s giving is more than 90% local, their volunteers have reached thousands of people across the United States with messages of encouragement, support, and their mission: to help people of all ages living with cancer and/or other debilitating illness or condition, while inspiring today’s youth to do the same.
“Gifts of Cheer has made a huge difference in the lives of others,” says Executive President, Jennifer Klug, who has personally helped deliver hundreds of gift bags to pediatric cancer patients and their families, as well as to many others living with a debilitating illness and/or disease like the elderly. “We have given hundreds of gifts to stroke and cancer patients, the elderly, and parents of littlest ones in the NICU. But what most people don’t realize is that the true gift is in the giving…”
“It’s so very rewarding when we receive a call, a thank you note, or a hug from someone we’ve helped. Yet, more often than any adult, the children will reach out to help with wanting to help us continue our efforts to bring cheer to those who need it most. Whether it be from a collection of coins, or a specific fundraiser, like a lemonade stand, kids make a HUGE difference in who we are and what we do”.
“We know we are reaching people as kids have been inspired and are going out into the world to make a difference with either our group, or on their own. It’s great to get an unexpected call from a youngster’s mother explaining that they have a donation for us because their child saw us somewhere…”
In the past year alone, Gifts of Cheer received several donations due to local participating children. “Kids will attend one of our free community outreach events, and return to their schools and churches and let them know what we are doing. Then, out of the blue, a check will arrive.” That’s what happened last week, when Gifts of Cheer received a check from a church who hosted Gifts of Cheer in their recent community youth groups efforts to help others.
Executive President, Jennifer Klug, says that although they have been blessed with the help and generosity of many others along the way, she emphasizes that just like kids need adult’s help to get their ideas off the ground, so, too, does Gifts of Cheer. The Gifts of Cheer volunteer team has not found a way to completely cover all the operational business costs to move out of the house. Getting business and corporate donations and invest in our community’s unknown is what we need most to continue to help our recipients, while inspiring today’s youth to do the same. Most businesses don’t know about us, but we are hard at work helping others and are very proud to be 100% volunteer.
Although Jennifer Klug says they are most fortunate with the donations and volunteers they have, there is not enough money to cover the costs to run the nonprofit outside of the family’s home. With Gifts of Cheer taking up two of the family’s spare bedrooms and a large portion of the basement, Jennifer and her family agrees that, “it would be great to get a space of our own in which we could have our recipients and public come to us…”
Gifts of Cheer expects this year to be a year of good cheer, for both their recipients as well as for their organization. With the help of others, Gifts of Cheer won’t have to work so hard to cover the general cost of doing business and can focus more of their efforts towards their gift giving efforts. It is their hope to continue to spread their wings by touching the lives of many others around them. “We just need someone to believe in us, as we do… And, dream big.”
Contributions and/or donations can be made online through their website at www.giftsofcheer.org or checks can be made payable to Gifts of Cheer and sent to Gifts of Cheer; PO Box 462; Fleetwood PA 19522.
For additional information, Contact:
GIFTS OF CHEER
Jennifer Klug
Executive President
Phone: 610-401-3475
