Team members from CCIU’s Head Start program attend the WSFS Bank & Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce Holiday Toy Drive breakfast, where donated gifts were gathered for distribution to local children and families. Pictured left to right are Tamara Acuna, assistant director of Student Services, and Shannon Dolan, practice based coach.
The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) announced that its Head Start program has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of the 2025 WSFS Bank and Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) Holiday Toy Drive. This annual community initiative collects and distributes gifts to local children and families in need, helping to make the holiday season a little brighter for all.
Each year, 40-gallon collection boxes, beautifully decorated by art students from the West Chester Area School District, are placed in WSFS Bank branch offices throughout the region. Community members and WSFS customers fill these boxes with toys, books, and other gifts, which are then distributed to three local nonprofit organizations serving children and families.
The CCIU Head Start program, which provides comprehensive early childhood education and family support services to income-eligible families across Chester County, will receive a portion of the collected gifts this year. These donations will directly support CCIU’s efforts to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the joy and warmth of the holiday season.
On December 10, representatives from CCIU joined leaders from other selected nonprofits at a celebratory breakfast hosted by St. Agnes School, where they shared a few words about their mission and collected the donated toys for distribution.
“We are deeply grateful to WSFS Bank, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, and the community members who make this effort possible,” said Tamara Acuna, assistant director for Student Services at the Chester County Intermediate Unit. “Our Head Start program serves some of Chester County’s youngest learners and their families, and this act of generosity truly reflects the spirit of community and compassion that defines our region.”
The CCIU Head Start team will work with families to ensure that every gift collected reaches children who will benefit most: spreading smiles, hope, and holiday cheer across Chester County.
For more information about Head Start and other early child programs, please visit www.cciu.org/headstart.
