In 2005 several local social service organizations in Butler County determined that working together made it simpler for families facing financial hardships to apply for help during the holiday season, and made it simpler for individuals or groups to donate or to volunteer. The Butler County Holiday Community Project, a countywide effort of about a dozen local organizations, is focused on coordinating drives that offer holiday baskets between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Butler County United Way and Shared Harvest Foodbank share in the project coordination role. In 2010, over 2,000 families were served through the community’s generous donations.

This past holiday season, the Holiday Community Project served:

• 1,387 families for Thanksgiving
• 1,530 with food for Christmas
• 2,003 adults with Christmas gifts
• 2,941 children with Christmas gifts

The total value of the services provided was $219,735. Thank you for supporting our local families in need!