Pine-Richland Youth Center raising money to help local needy families for the holidays

After witnessing the need for help during the holidays last year, the Pine-Richland Youth Center has mounted a $2,500 fund drive that it will match for needy families this holiday season.

The effort, dubbed Richie’s Great Gift-Away, seeks to raise $2,500 by Dec. 15 and to identify families in need.

Residents in the center’s service area — southern Butler County and all of Allegheny County — are eligible.

“Some people are still trying to find new jobs and we know a girl who lost her mother,” said Jessica Hall-Wirth, director of the center’s Students with Exceptional Abilities Program.

“We forget these kinds of tragedies happen and the holiday season isn’t always as magical as it can be,” she said. “We wanted to give back in some way.”

The center is displaying a snowman illustration on one of its walls to show fundraising progress. Currently, the snowman is melted on the floor, but Hall-Wirth said that will change as donations come in to build up the snowman.

The center will match the $2,500 raised, providing a $5,000 split between 10 families. The amount and number of families served could change pending the outcome of fundraising and the number of families identified for the gift-away, she said.

The public is asked to donate via the center’s website, by phone, or by mail.

The center is also asking the public to nominate families in need. Self-nominations will be accepted.

A committee of center directors will pick the recipients of the gift-away on Dec. 16 and winners will be notified by Dec. 17, Hall-Wirth said.

The center offers programming for adults and children including a range of athletic and educational classes and opportunities. The Students with Exceptional Abilities Program serves children with a wide variety of disabilities and gifted students, as well as students struggling with academics.

To donate or identify a family in need, visit pryc.org, or call 724-443-3796. Donations can also be dropped off or mailed to Pine-Richland Youth Center, 5554 Community Center Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044.