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CandyCare 2020 Update
Charity Spotlight by Liz Burnett
Photo courtesy of Patti Bruno
CandyCare is a happy Newtown Square-based ministry that has been bringing tons of comfort, joy and CANDY to our less fortunate neighbors for the past 21 years. Started by Patti and Gabrielle Bruno, a dynamic mother/daughter duo, they successfully developed and coordinated a huge team of volunteers, schools, stores and businesses throughout Delaware County and beyond, all of whom collect Halloween candy to donate to children, men and women who call the streets or a shelter their home.
The Brunos’ Halloween tradition began in 1998, when Gabrielle was a first-grader at St. Anastasia’s School in Newtown Square. That first year, the Brunos collected 200 pounds of candy at their school. Over the past 21 years, countless children smilingly gave up their treats and stores donated unsold sweets, as CandyCare grew to include over 45 schools and businesses collecting THOUSANDS of pounds of candy! Last year, CandyCare collected a whopping 5,475 POUNDS of candy!
This year, sadly, there will be no candy collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So we’re taking this opportunity to give a huge shout-out to St. Luke’s Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall for kindly opening their doors each year as the collection site for all this candy! Pastor Christ Kontos there loves kids and candy and serving the community in this way.
(L-R): Patti Bruno, Pastor Christ Kontos and Gabrielle Bruno joined by some volunteers and surrounded by some of the candy donated in November 2019
Our community has been blessed by this service opportunity, which easily teaches service through giving to the youth who give up their Halloween candy to help those less fortunate. The Brunos sincerely thank every single person, school and business who made past years’ drives so successful. You all are the heart that has made CandyCare so vibrant and love-based all these years!
Let’s all pray that this time next year, we can resume CandyCare’s mission of sharing our blessings and making life sweeter for those less fortunate.
