Christmas Gala Helps Bucks Co. Elderly All Year Long

BRISTOL BOROUGH, PA —It's the busy season for The Christmas Gala.

You would think that any business or organization with the name "Christmas" in its title would be especially busy during the holiday season as Christmas Day approaches.

And that's the case as members of The Christmas Gala have made the rounds in Lower Bucks County, making stops in Morrisville and elsewhere to share some holiday spirit. There was even a "Christmas Gala" that took place on Dec. 9.

But The Christmas Gala is busy all year round.

This Bucks County non-profit organization assists elderly residents age 60 and older for 12 months a year instead of one month when Santa Claus rules the roost.

Spearheaded by its founder and executive director Cheryl Campbell, the organization provides presents around Christmas and much-needed items during the rest of the year.

“For 15 years, I've dedicated myself to a cause I'm passionate about. The nonprofit I founded, supporting seniors in need, has grown with incredible community support. This year marks our largest effort yet,” Campbell said.

In a recent interview with Patch, Campbell said that senior citizens don’t get the publicity that others do when they need help and that’s what makes her organization so important.

“When children are in need, the issue is fixed,” she said. “When pets are lost, there are a million posts.”

She said that many senior citizens are alone and some are in their 80s and 90s.

“They are not always nice, cute or feeling,” she said. “Some have outlived everybody.”

She said that the Christmas Gala members are all volunteers who assist about 40 different organizations.

“When I first started it, it was just Christmas presents,” Campbell said.

Then an emergency program was launched. That program provides necessary things like microwaves and bedding or anything that will help keep an elderly person in their homes, Campbell said.

“When Covid hit, people fell through the cracks,” she said.

It has a "Surprise a Senior" program that has helped 1,000 seniors and runs from October through December.

Campbell is struggling, thoug, to keep the program alive.

“It’s very tough to keep things going,” she said.

Looking ahead to 2024, She’s seeking a dedicated team to ensure the mission continues.

“Without your support, the future is uncertain. Fundraising is crucial, and though organizing events like our annual gala is challenging, it keeps us going. Unfortunately, this year's gala response has been underwhelming, impacting our ability to sustain the organization. We're a small group achieving big things, relying solely on community support. Your help is vital to keep our doors open,” she said.