As Weleski movers and our families welcome this “most wonderful time of the year,” we can’t help but think about those in our community who are struggling: the dad who's company is downsizing; the family that’s behind on rent when the car engine goes out; the family torn by domestic violence. How will they experience the joy and peace of Christmas? Our movers help share the holiday spirit by volunteering for local charities. Two of our programs this holiday season are Angel Tree & Adopt a Family.

Angel TreeWeleski mover volunteering for Angel Tree

One way we help is through Angel Tree, a project of the Saint Anthony Guild at Mount Saint Peter Parish in New Kensington. Andrea Scalise, a Weleski employee and the guild president, explains that families who qualify for assistance write down their children’s clothing sizes and wishes for toys. With donations from parishioners, guild members purchase the items. On the Monday after Thanksgiving, the local K-Mart extends a special discount to the guild and allows its members to shop before the store opens to the public. Weleski Transfer provides a truck and movers to transport the many items to Mount St. Peter Church for distribution to the families. This year,  we handled quite a haul—enough clothing and gifts to delight 113 children. (Angel Tree also yielded groceries in the form of gift cards at Giant Eagle—helping set tables and stock pantries for 35 families.)

Adopt a Family

For the third year, employees at Weleski movers (including sister companies Weleski Truck Repair and Weleski Self Storage) are grateful participants in “Adopt a Family.” This project is administered by Alle-Kiski HOPE Center, a local non-profit that serves families affected by domestic violence. The center reaches out to those it has helped during the year and writes down things they could use. This year, we’ve adopted two families: one, a mother with two daughters and a son; the other, a mother with three sons. We posted their wish lists in our office and our employees are signing up to donate the requested items. For confidentiality, the center does not reveal the names of recipients; we label the gifts with numbers that indicate who gets to unwrap them.

Although we don’t see the faces of our beneficiaries, we can imagine what they look like. Just imagine your own joy of a Christmas past, the excitement you felt at receiving that longed-for gift. After all, every gift is an expression of love. What could be more fitting this time of year?