Pottstown, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/09/2019 -- Thirty-six years ago, Jim Frymoyer was in search of a service project. He settled on a Christmas party for needy children, and that year 75 kids got toys and a fun afternoon.
Over the years, Frymoyer kept at it, and the event grew. This year, Frymoyer and his crew of volunteer elves will host a party on Dec. 14 for more than 450 children and their parents at the SunnyBrook Ballroom in Pottstown. The next Friday, Dec. 20, the group will deliver about 250 food boxes to families in need.
We say "more than" and "about" because the number is always growing. Frymoyer doesn't say "no." Pottstown has a 22 percent poverty rate, so the need is great. A nice touch: Presents for the kids – collected from more than a dozen local businesses that hosted "angel trees" – will be in opaque bags at the party so the parents can sneak them home and give them to their children on Christmas morning. That way, the kids get the gifts on the big day, and their parents get the pleasure of providing them.
In addition to the size of the party and the number of people served, Frymoyer himself is probably what sets this event apart. He has drawn the community together, attracting donations of as little as $25 from residents, and thousands of dollars more from local businesses. Local organizations – churches, the NAACP, social service groups – are involved. About 75 volunteers will help with collecting and sorting presents, working at the party, collecting the food, packing the boxes and delivering them.
Now, the effort has grown so large that Frymoyer recently founded a 501c3 charity, Pottstown Area Children's Foundation, to attract even more support and serve even more kids and their families.
We invite your coverage of either event.
THE PARTY is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the SunnyBrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Pottstown, PA 18464.
PARTY VISUALS: Lots of kids visiting with Santa, doing Christmas-themed crafts, interacting with Superheroes, winning a drawing for 18 bicycles and scooters, converging on hundreds of stuffed animals to choose and grab, etc. Volunteers will be wearing their best elf attire.
THE FOOD BOX GIVE-AWAY is from 7 to 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at the YMCA, 724 N. Adams St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
VISUALS: Inside the Y, volunteers will be moving boxes filled with bread, potatoes, gravy, canned vegetables, stuffing mix, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, jelly, juice, cereal, cookies, hot chocolate and canned fruit. Outside, we'll add to the boxes from trucks filled with turkeys, hams, milk, eggs and butter.
Extra background information:
Aug. 13 guest column by Jim Frymoyer about the effort and explaining why he's so committed:
https://www.pottsmerc.com/opinion/guest-column-planning-underway-for-annual-children-s-christmas-party/article_55ba4ada-be08-11e9-81ed-9f8f5c99c334.html
Aug. 15 article about an event to honor Jim Frymoyer and his 40 years of service to the community:
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/four-decades-of-service-officials-honor-volunteer-jimmy-frymoyer/article_d0840860-bf88-11e9-aa78-4f06bd0bb5c2.html
For more information please contact Sandy Bauers by calling 610-310-3799 or email her at sandybauers10@gmail.com
About Pottstown Area Children's Foundation
What began as a charitable act during the holidays over 36 years ago by Jim Frymoyer over 30 years ago, the Pottstown Area Children's Foundation has since been established as a non-profit organization which serves to better the lives of children and their families throughout the Pottstown area by providing food and donations during the holiday season. Each year, the Pottstown Area Children's Foundation launches new initiatives to better the community and the lives of the less fortunate.