Middletown, Lincroft

Jan 25, 2018

FCS Operation Sleighbells is a Holiday Success

Businesses and organizations partnered with FCS to make Operation Sleighbells a holiday success.

More than 550 Monmouth County families enjoyed a brighter holiday season thanks to the many area businesses and organizations who partnered with Family & Children’s Service (FCS) to support the agency’s 2017 Operation Sleighbells. The annual holiday gift drive, which supplies toys, books, coats, pajamas and infant necessities to local children in need, helped 1,300 children from dozens of surrounding towns and cities, as well as 400 children served by child protection programs in central and southern Monmouth County. “We’re delighted that we were able to make so many holiday wishes come true,” FCS Director of Volunteer Services Samantha White exclaimed. “The generosity of our donors made it possible for us to provide gifts or gift cards to every child who requested one.” White also attributed much of the program’s  success this year to Monmouth Park, who, for the third consecutive year donated much-needed space at no cost in order for volunteers to collect, sort and distribute the thousands of gifts during the month of December.  White noted without the off-site space, FCS would be forced to reduce the number of families it serves. Operation Sleighbells is different from other holiday drives in that it addresses the specific wishes of a child. This year, dozens of new businesses and organizations signed up to sponsor families or conduct toy drives, bringing the total number of sponsors to well above 100. With 109 years of history, FCS is the oldest, private nonprofit social service agency in Monmouth County and a leading volunteer organization whose mission is to provide compassionate care, intervention and education to support people at challenging times in their lives. To learn more about FCS and its 14 diverse programs and services focused on the needs of multiple at-risk populations, visit the FCS website at www.fcsmonmouth.org