Children’s Service Center associates (above, from right) Kristin Tewksbury, Alicia Gantz, Nicole Huyck, Chyann Phillips, Phoebe Quintero, Mary Valburg and Mike Hopkins thank Tammy Bonnie of Williams (far left) for the company’s generous support of CSC’s annual Giving Tree initiative.
For a ninth consecutive year, employees of Williams Companies participated in an initiative to make sure some children they will likely never know had a happy Christmas and received gifts they both wanted and needed.
“Our employees go above and beyond,” Tammy Bonnice of Williams said of the high participation rate in the annual Holiday Giving Tree project coordinated with Children’s Service Center (CSC). The agency provides counseling and other family-focused, behavioral health services via offices throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, including in Tunkhannock.
Annually, tags naming a CSC client and something they cited as a “need” and something that they “want” are affixed to a large tree just inside the main entrance at Williams’ office that are then selected by an employee. Many of the “secret” Santas shop together, wrap the gifts and bring them back to work. Before long, the pile of gifts under the tree builds in advance of retrieval and distribution by CSC employees to the children.
“Each year, CSC identifies hardworking families that are struggling to keep up and do not have the funds to purchase gifts after paying their monthly expenses,” said Linda Wiseman, director of development at CSC. “Williams was generous in providing 100 children with Christmas gifts and instrumental in helping CSC fulfill the tags on our Giving Tree.”
“Every year, they bring smiles to so many kids by providing amazing gifts to be placed under the kids’ trees on Christmas morning,” stated CSC president and CEO Michael Hopkins, who applauded the staff of Williams Companies for becoming such a significant contributor to the Holiday Giving Tree project. “Tammy’s work, along with the staff, makes an enormous difference in the lives of many children and families in Wyoming and surrounding counties,” he stated.
“I have been a consistent supporter of the gift drive for Children’s Service Center over the past nine years,” Williams employee Ben Pippinger related. “My family and I choose to do so to bring joy and happiness to children in need during the holiday season.”
Fellow Williams employee Kim Pichette has a slight head start on Pippenger, participating for the past 12 years with similar goals in mind. “I hope to bring joy to the children and put smiles on their faces,” she stated.
The gifts purchased by Williams employees were distributed in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, clients from each receiving services through the CSC office on Tioga Street in Tunkhannock.
“The gifts also take some of the pressure – inherent in the holiday season – off the parents,” Hopkins noted. “We thank Tammy Bonnice and all of the staff at Williams for their generous support.”
“By giving back to the community, our business helps foster a sense of purpose and engagement among employees that build meaningful connections in all areas where we live and work,” said Peppinger.
CSC counselors and other service providers delivered the toys and clothing to parents and caregivers throughout December during routine house calls.
Retrieval of each year’s bounty by CSC employees is bittersweet for Williams employees who become accustomed to walking past the mounds of brightly-colored packages at their Tunkhannock office. But a sense of accomplishment remains at knowing that they once again exceeded their previous efforts and a few less children will go without.
“Williams involves employees in many aspects and areas of giving back to the community,” Pichette added. “By doing so, many strong relationships are built throughout the community.”
Megan Karhrak (left) and Lindsay Schmidt of Williams Companies stand amidst a sea of gifts for local children purchased by Williams employees.