Giving Back: Knox Law Shares the Holiday Spirit

Knox Law employees have been busy this holiday season with three annual charitable endeavors: a Thanksgiving Dinner Drive, Safenet Christmas Gift Program and the Holiday Raffle. We are very proud of our generous employees, who donate their own money for each project.

The Thanksgiving Dinner Drive provides complete Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in the Erie area. Rick and Jane Hinman of Erie have run the program for 30 years, partnering with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. Knox Law employees have participated for the last 19 years, donating food items or cash donations. This year, almost $200 was donated.

The Christmas Gift Program, in its 21st year, benefits Safenet, Erie's only accredited domestic violence agency providing free confidential services including counseling, legal advocacy, education and shelter to victims of domestic violence. Safenet provides Knox Law with an anonymous wish list for women and children they serve. Knox Law employees agree to fulfill those wishes, which often include small appliances, towels, picture frames, clothing - anything to help the victims start over.

For some of the recipients, these gifts will be the only thing they have for Christmas. This year, 62 gifts were donated by Knox Law employees for the program - a dozen more than last year.

The Holiday Raffle, in its 23rd year, is a three-day event at Knox Law during which employees purchase raffle tickets. Items for the raffle are donated by employees and may include holiday items, gift baskets, homemade baked goods, lottery tickets, etc. The firm also donates a "free day off," one attorney-hunter traditionally donates fresh venison meat, and another attorney donates a "mystery gift."

Employees receive a ballot for each item they donate. On the last afternoon, employees enjoy a party during which gifts are raffled. At the end, two or three employee ballots are chosen at random. Those employees choose the charities to which 100% of the ticket proceeds will be donated.

This year, $1,076 was raised and split between Gliding Stars of Erie and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Other charities receiving donations in the past have included, among others, United Way of Erie County, Erie City Mission, Shriners Hospital for Children, Mercy Center for Women, Neighborhood Art House, Emmaus Soup Kitchen, The Humane Society of NWPA, Brevillier Village, and Orphan Angels.

For more information, please contact Sarah Holland.