The YMCA of Bucks County has launched its annual Holiday Giving Seasonal Outreach. The charitable effort helps provide a festive November-December for the needy throughout the county.

The Y is soliciting donations for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, benefitting the members of its prescreened financial assistance program.

As was the case last year, it seeks gift cards or monetary contributions, owing to ongoing safety concerns tied to COVID-19. No turkeys or physical gifts will be accepted for either drive.

The Thanksgiving version runs November 1-15.

Donated gift cards from food-related chains like Giant, Walmart, Target, and ACME will enable local families to purchase a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. General retail cards (VISA, AmEx) are also donatable, as are certificates for turkeys and monetary gifts.

Participants in the Christmas effort have a window of November 22 to December 6.

Gift parameters are the same: store-specific cards, general retail cards, monetary contributions.

Gift cards and financial support can be dropped off at the YMCA of Bucks County locations in:

• Doylestown
• Newtown
• Quakertown

Funds for the 2021 Holiday Giving Seasonal Outreach are being collected online.