Capturing the true spirit of the holidays at Overly's Country Christmas®

For many, the charitable endeavors of Overly’s Country Christmas® are the most important part of what we do.

In 2000, a pilot group of social and human service agencies met with our volunteers and representatives of Overly’s Country Christmas® to assist us in evaluating our community outreach efforts for Lights for Little Ones. Based on the information gathered with the focus group, we became aware that one of the greatest needs was to have an environment, atmosphere and facility that lent itself to family bonding and communication.

As a family-focused organization which creates holiday memories and traditions for thousands of visitors each year, we felt confident that we could provide the type of opportunity that the agencies requested. During our 2001 Season, the “Family Moments Programs” were introduced.

Today, 17 human service agencies serving at-risk families throughout Westmoreland, Fayette, Somerset and Allegheny Counties refer families to participate in our Family Moments programs with additional referring agencies added each year.

Hundreds of families, including thousands of children, have had the opportunity to visit the drive-thru light display and Christmas Village as guests of the “Family Moments Holiday Packages” program. This program provides families with admission to the light display and an evening of country-style fun in Christmas Village.

Providing support to other organizations' missions is another aspect of Overly’s community outreach. Support is provided through Share the Magic as well as excess food products from the holiday season and other events are donated to local women’s and children’s shelters, homeless shelters and the Westmoreland County Food Bank for distribution to those in need of food assistance.

Overly’s Country Christmas® partners with local, nonprofit organizations to help bring about awareness for their missions and an opportunity to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys, nonperishable food items, and pet food during the holidays. Throughout the year, Overly’s presents gift baskets of commemorative merchandise to area nonprofits to aid in their fund raising efforts. Overly’s also partners with the Tickets for Kids Foundation in providing Magical Moments and Lifetime Memories for children in some of our most neglected neighborhoods.

Since 1994, Overly’s Country Christmas® has worked with the Westmoreland County Juvenile Probation Department. While learning team building and life skills, these troubled youths can give back to our community and help us to continue to provide holiday memories and traditions to everyone in our community.

Comments from the children... "It was the best! Santa came and we had cookies and hot chocolate! I love Santa. Can we do it again?" "I liked the lights. I think there are more than 2,000 lights at Overly's. And that's more than I ever saw before!" "I got to have my picture taken with my brother. My mom liked it a lot, but she cried too." From the parents... "Thank you for making our holidays brighter! We had so much fun!" From the agencies... "We appreciate the opportunity to provide our clients with the 'little extras' during the holidays, that the parents might otherwise not be able to give to their children. Thanks for helping them to create their own memories and traditions." From one of our volunteers... "I remembered the true meaning of Christmas spirit when I saw the sparkle in the eyes of the children."