Gloucester Twp. Nonprofit Aids Struggling Families Amid Holidays

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Gloucester Township-based nonprofit helped raise money for struggling families with a night of rock and roll Christmas Carols this holiday season.

Christina DeCristofor, a former sergeant with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, is the founder of the nonprofit organization Operation Kindness.

She helped the local band Unglued raise money for families in need through a fundraiser that culminated with rock 'n roll Christmas caroling in four South Jersey neighborhoods on Sunday.

Unglued played outdoors on a flatbed bedecked with colorful holiday lights for small, socially distanced audiences in Pine Hill, Stratford and two locations in Gibbsboro — the American Legion and Freedom Village.

DeCristofor helped find one of the families that will benefit from the fundraiser and made contributions.

Those who will benefit include:

• a woman with two children who left her abusive partner;
• a family whose house was destroyed by a fire;
• a mother who took in additional children due to a death in her extended family;
• the parents of two toddlers facing job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• the single mother of a young child who works 12-hour days to try to make ends meet.

As of Monday, the effort had garnered more than $3,000 in monetary gifts in addition to many bags of toys and clothing, and the band was working to identify additional families to help.

Operation Kindness promotes unity and joy by inviting people to support causes ranging from the household needs of struggling individuals to the college costs of the children of fallen police officers and firefighters.

Its other efforts have included collecting for Northgate II, a community of senior citizens and adults with special needs.

Wally Pratz, of Stratford, is Unglued’s founder and lead singer. He said a charity event like the rock and roll carols performed on Sunday is something he’s wanted to do for 20 years.

“I just wanted to go around my hometown with a couple of boys from the band and carol, but then I realized we could actually do some good with it,” Pratz said. “One family is allowing us to show up at their doorstep with Santa and the band to present them with everything, and all I want is to see the expressions on their faces. If we can put a smile on someone’s face, that’s what we’re looking to do.”

In addition to Operation Kindness, Unglued found the struggling families through the Pine Hill School District; Rich Gugel of Rich’s Custom Carpet in Sicklerville; and 2hands.org, an organization that connects charitable givers with people in need.

Gugel also participated by donating gift cards, and Operation Kindness members contributed money, toys and clothing. Additional aid came from Deterding’s Family Market in Lindenwold, which promised two full Christmas dinners with all the trimmings, and the Gibbsboro American Legion, which gave two freshly cut Christmas trees.

During the evening of caroling, the band members encouraged donations from onlookers and those at home to help support five local families facing financial hardship. They also encouraged contributions to the food pantries at Stratford United Methodist Church and the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle in Gibbsboro. The musicians will continue to accept gifts for those families and others through Dec. 25 and beyond.

Joining Pratz in performing a selection of traditional and modern Christmas tunes, including “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” were bassist/vocalist Harry Bittner of Stratford, drummer/vocalist Ryan Cathrall of Pine Hill, guitarist/vocalist Jim Incollingo of Haddon Heights, and guitarist/vocalist Bob Walker of Bellmawr.

Santa Claus Joe Popow of Stratford, who makes many virtual and in-person appearances at this time of year, also participated in the evening’s festivities.

During the night of caroling, small, masked groups gathered at each location to listen to the band play, greet Santa and make donations. An elf — Bittner’s daughter, Alyssa — set up a basket for donations and to distribute sealed bags of candy to the children in the crowd. The event was livestreamed on the band’s Facebook page to encourage people to watch and donate from home.

“What a great idea to get families out at a horrible time of COVID,” Pine Hill resident Regina Schoeb said after watching the band play on her street. “It’s a great neighborhood, and these people make it more special.”

Helping to make the performances happen were Steve Linvill, of Linvill’s Limousine Service in Gibbsboro, who transported band members between caroling locations; Jim Hershberger, director of warehouse operations for Cherry Hill Programs photography studio in Marlton, who towed the flatbed to each site; and the Borough of Gibbsboro, which provided a COVID-safe practice facility for the band.

Pratz called the response “overwhelming” and said he’s “already working on next year.”

“The band would like to thank all our wives, who did a lot of work to make this happen, including collecting food and donations and shopping for toys,” Pratz said.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact Anthony.Bellano@patch.com.