Photo by CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Dennis Gruver, longtime member of the Christmas Committee in Montgomery, shared the history of the organization during the December meeting of the Montgomery Area Historical Society.

For about 45 years or so, volunteers of the Montgomery Christmas Committee have provided items for families in need.

Dennis Gruver, a longtime committee member, gave a report on the 501-C3 organization during the Dec. 16 meeting of the Montgomery Area Historical Society.

Gruver said, “It’s intense at crunch time, but it’s rewarding. We serve between 172-175 families annually.” The speaker credited several persons for facilitating the effort over the years. “It began with Erma Emory, the school nurse, who saw a need with the children at school.”

At first, only food stuffs were gathered. Boxes were lined up in the aisles at John’s Market. The committee went early to pack them before store hours began. “At that time, we served about 60 families. We didn’t have a huge area then, mostly those within the borough. People were always receptive to the donations,” he said.

As time went by, other facilitators came to the forefront. All had been previously involved, so they knew what they were doing. Cited by the speaker was his late wife, Nancy Gruver, also Peggy Yohn and currently, Virginia Hill.

Also over the years, boxing was done at various sites including at the Lion’s Hall, the telephone company, and the large social room in the basement of Christ Lutheran Church. Gruver had a humorous memory of unloading frozen turkeys, saying the hallway at the church was so long, those unloading slid them along like one would a bowling ball.

The speaker said, “Eventually, toys were donated to be delivered along with the food boxes. The response was great before factories began to dwindle. A trailer load of toys would come in from Koppers, Springs, and other factories. When donations became less and less, the committee turned to Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.”

The inclusion of toys brought the additional work of wrapping. “We place donation boxes at 16 places, beginning at the Surplus Outlet on Route 15. We are grateful to C & E Container of Jersey Shore, who donate the boxes valued at $1.50 each,” he said.

It was sometime ago, the entitreity of those in need throughout the school district was added and served. Volunteers from each township picks-up and delivers to its residents.

Senior citizens are a different category. As food gathered may not be listed on their diets, Weis Market gift cards are provided.

Annually, receiptants are required to phone in to be placed on the committee’s list. Regardless of the pandemic, the committee reports a very successful year.