The nonprofit “Grands Stepping Up” is making the holiday brighter for 1,000 children in Delaware County, writes Nick Iadonisi for 6abc.
“This is the culmination at the end of the year of all the goodwill that we put together all year round,” said Grands Stepping Up Founder and President Karen Barnes of Drexel Hill.
The nonprofit has been accepting wish list gifts from the community for the children in grand and kinship families, and for anyone in need in Delaware County.
Grands Stepping Up supports grand and kinship caregivers who are caring for their grandchildren or their nieces and nephews because the parents are not available, Barnes explained.
The nonprofit maintains a resource center at the Bethany Church in Havertown, where they distribute food, toiletries, paper products, and baby items.
The holiday drive is in addition to the regular distribution of goods offered on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, year-round.
The organization was started by Barnes 13 years ago when she became a guardian to her granddaughter and met people in similar situations who were suffering.
“Our biggest accomplishment is hope…giving people, families, children, hope that they’re not alone and that they are going to be OK” said Barnes.
Read more about the work of Grands Stepping Up at 6abc.
