Family Dollar’s ‘Holiday Giving Program’ seeks donations to benefit Covenant House

Customers of the discount retail chain Family Dollar will be able to help homeless youths this holiday season through a fundraising effort to benefit Covenant House Pennsylvania.

Bryn Winburn, spokeswoman for Family Dollar, said some of the company’s local district managers selected Covenant House Pennsylvania for the “Holiday Giving Program,” which seeks organizations in the stores’ community.

Covenant House is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless and runaway youth escape the streets and smoothly transition to stable housing, education and employment.

Its Germantown location, at 31 E. Armat St., serves as the Crisis Center providing shelter for 51 kids each day.

“Covenant House Pennsylvania is a great organization,” Winburn said. “What they do is fantastic and we are very excited about this partnership.”

How to help

During the fundraiser, cashiers at Family Dollar locations will ask customers if they would like to donate to the organization. If they do, the donation amount will be added to their bill as “charitable giving.” All proceeds will go toward Covenant House’s holiday celebrations.

Janet Weyers, director of development, said the effort will enable Covenant House to continue assisting current and former residents through the organization’s busiest time of the year.

“This celebration is very important because it gives people a sense of family for many people who don’t have one or lost connection with their families, so we fill that role during this time of the year,” said Weyers.

Weyers said the organization hosts an annual Christmas dinner for more than 200 current and past residents. There, presents ranging from gift cards to food baskets including turkeys are given.

Weyers noted that Family Dollar’s support will enable them to hand out more presents this holiday season.

The effort started Monday and runs through Dec. 19.

For more information about Covenant House Pennsylvania, go to covenanthouse.org.