Giving and gratitude

Thursday is Thanksgiving and it is a good time of the year to demonstrate your gratitude for the blessings that you have received by helping others.

There are a lot of neighbors in need right here in southern Chester County and organizations like Kennett Area Community Service or the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center are on the front lines when it comes to helping those in need.

A contribution of food or money to one of these organizations is a good way to help others during the holiday season.

The federal government shutdown, and the subsequent disruption of SNAP funding, caused economic hardship for millions of Americans, including thousands of people here in Chester County. Food cupboards received more donations during the shutdown, but the requests for assistance from these food cupboards also skyrocketed. With the winter months ahead, and many families struggling to keep up with the rising costs of food and housing, these organizations will be hard-pressed to meet all the needs.

The KACS Food Cupboard is located at 136 West Cedar Street in Kennett Square. For more information, or to make a donation, visit KACSimpact.org.

The Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center is located at 35 North 3rd Street in Oxford. For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.oxfordnsc.org.

The United Way of Southern Chester County provides support to dozens of nonprofit organizations in the area, and one gift to the United Way (unitedwayscc.org) is another way make a positive impact on the community.

The big impact of Small Business Saturday

We encourage everyone to shop local and support small businesses on Small Business Saturday—November 29.

Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate and support small businesses. Here in southern Chester County, we’re fortunate to have many wonderful small businesses, especially in the downtowns of Kennett Square, Oxford, and West Grove. The owners and employees of these small businesses make important contributions to the communities. The holiday season is very important to the success of small businesses and local restaurants. Everyone should support independent businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season.

Help for working Pennsylvanians

State lawmakers recently approved a Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit aimed at providing some help to working Pennsylvanians who are being squeezed by rising food costs and prices for everyday essentials.

The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit was included in the 2025-26 state budget, and was authored by our local State Rep. Christina Sappey.

It is estimated that nearly one million working Pennsylvanians will benefit from this state-level tax credit on their personal income taxes.

Sappey said that any Pennsylvania household that qualifies for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit will qualify for the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, which will be 10 percent of the federal EITC amount that household receives. That amount could range from $400 to more than $1,000 depending on family size and income.

Sappey said the EITC is widely regarded as the most successful anti-poverty program of the last 50 years.

Pennsylvania now joins 31 other states that have their own state tax credit to enhance the federal EITC’s impact.

In 2026, state lawmakers should work to finally raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania.