COUDERSPORT — Potter County’s Christmas House is gearing up for a big holiday season thanks to donations from residents and businesses across the county.

Throughout the year, gifts are donated and volunteers wrap thousands of them to help spread joy to area families at Christmastime.

While the Christmas House is busiest during the holidays, the charity’s outreach does not end there. Whenever there is a fire or emergency, the agency works with the Salvation Army and the Red Cross to ensure families can get back on their feet.

Charlene Smith, coordinator of Christmas House activities, stated that the organization could not do what it does without the support of the community.

“Our workers are all volunteers and everything is done through donations,” said Smith. “We probably help 300 to 400 families each year, and that’s not including the Christmas project.”

Smith stated that Christmas House has been in operation for about 30 years, and was founded by Alyce Reese.

“When Alyce was ready to hand off the Christmas House, she wanted me to run it and handpicked all of our workers,” said Smith. “We call her ‘Mother Christmas’ and we’re just her elves, carrying on her tradition.”

Smith came to the Christmas House through her own personal tragedy. Smith said she was living in Westfield and had never even heard of the organization until her family’s home caught fire and she was directed to call the organization.

“They took my kids and bought them new school sneakers,” said Smith. “From that point on, I’ve been involved with Christmas House.”

Smith currently lives in Elkland, more than an hour away by car from Christmas House’s home base in Coudersport. She drives to Coudersport each week on Tuesday to meet with the group, and spends countless hours making phone calls and other behind-the-scenes work.

“I can’t give up on it, knowing what they do. It will be hard to give it up when the time comes. We do so much for the community,” said Smith.

And, they do a lot for the community. Christmas House is not just for Christmas.

In addition to delivering thousands of wrapped, hand-picked gifts to children in every community in Potter County, along with all the food and Christmas snacks a kid can eat, the organization also operates several emergency programs.

When a family suffers a fire or other emergency, the Christmas House is there to supply bedding, blankets, furniture and other necessities. Other aid groups are brought in to be sure the family gets the services they need.

For babies in need, formula and diapers can be provided.

The charity can pay toward rent, utilities and heat in case of financial emergencies, and often works with the Salvation Army and Red Cross to get up enough money to fill a propane tank for needy families.

“You need all the money up front to fill a propane tank, and a lot of our families just can’t come up with that all at once,” said Smith. “This really helps low-income families, those who just don’t make quite enough to make ends meet. We really try to go a little above and beyond for them.”

During this time of the year, volunteers are busy wrapping gifts and checking the list to be sure they have enough for everyone. Volunteers meet on Tuesday at the Christmas House, located on the corner of South Main and Water streets in Coudersport. Donations of board games for all ages and gifts for teenage boys are still being accepted to fill gaps in the current inventory, but at this time of year, monetary donations are best.

To make a donation to Christmas House, send a check to 1 Water Street, Coudersport, PA. Checks are payable to Christmas House or Heart Response. The organization is a non-profit 5019(c)(3) corporation.

Checks can be dropped off in the mailbox at the Christmas House door, or can be delivered in person on Tuesdays. However, staff does not meet at the Christmas House during January and February.

“Clubs, organizations, churches and individuals help us keep the doors open through their generous donations all year long. We appreciate each and every gift and take very seriously the need to be good stewards of all that is given us,” according to the Christmas House mission statement.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the community’s donations,” said Smith. “Our main goal is the kids, but we’re there for the community.”