More than 200 people gathered last month to take part in the Bucks County Opportunity Council annual meeting and commemorate the impacts on the community.
The nonprofit with locations in Bristol Township, Doylestown, Warminster, and Quakertown served 56,000 individuals across its five core program areas – housing, food, economic self-sufficiency, weatherization, and tax assistance – from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
The annual meeting for the Bucks County Opportunity Council, which has been the area’s lead poverty-reducing agency for 58 years, included first-hand accounts from people who benefitted from its programs.
Haliegh, who benefited from the nonprofit’s IRS-certified volunteers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity.
“This type of assistance gave some much needed relief knowing I was being taken care of by experts,” she said.
Dakota, a recipient of the Bucks County Opportunity Council’s support, completed a certification program that enabled her to earn a livable wage and provide for her two daughters.
“Without them, I am pretty sure I would have lost everything,” she said.
Kelly, who will graduate from the economic self-sufficiency program next year, recounted her journey from homelessness and desperation to stability and self-sufficiency.
Through the help of the program, she went from homelessness to renting a home in Newtown.
In addition to sharing the inspiring stories, the nonprofit recognized and honored several entities that have played a pivotal role in supporting their mission.
Credit: BCOC
The YWCA of Bucks County received the prestigious “Building Bridges: Community Impact Award” for its impactful partnership in serving the Bucks County community.
Wegmans of Warrington was presented with the Community Connector Award for its decade-long commitment to addressing food insecurity in Bucks County. Wegmans contributed over 300,000 pounds of food to assist neighbors in need during the past year.
Credit: BCOC
Bob and Elaine Fitt were bestowed with the Ambassadors of the Year Award for their dedicated community efforts in supporting the Bucks County Opportunity Council’s mission and participants.
Credit: BCOC
“The true award winners are the participants. Look at Kelly, who had every reason to give up, and she didn’t. She stuck with it and became self-sufficient,” Bob Fitt said.
Bucks County commissioners Bob Harvie and Gene DiGirolamo and State Rep. Craig Staats attended the event.
