Philanthropist Gives Away $25K At Food Distribution Event In Bucks

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA ? As Christmas music filled the air, a long line of people waited to pick up their weekly allotment of fresh produce at the Bristol Township Municipal Complex on Bath Road.

But today, they were in for a surprise.

As they reached the end of the line, each were presented with a holiday greeting card from the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund containing a crisp $100 bill.

After opening her letter, one woman walked up to Erin Lukoss, the executive director of the Doylestown-based Bucks County Opportunity Council, and gave her a hug.

"She told me that Publisher's Clearinghouse had called her twice that morning and hung up. So she wanted to make sure this was real," said Lukoss.

It was one of many hugs Lukoss received that day.

"This is beyond generous," said another woman giving Lukoss another hug.

Some of the thank you notes sent to the Epsteins.

The woman was one of more than 200 people who received the special gift from the Gene and Marlene Epstein Foundation, which gave away $25,000 during the weekly Fresh Connect produce distribution event organized by the Bucks County Opportunity Council.

"Gene is a gift to our community," said Lukoss, who handed out the money in Gene's absence. "I don't know if there's anyone else who cares as much as he does. He's always figuring out how he can help - what's another way, a different way he can help. He's just a really awesome person with a huge heart."

Epstein had planned to be there in person to hand out the greetings and the $100 bills, but health challenges forced him to remain at home this year.

"I know it's hard for him not to be here today. But I know he's here in spirit," said Lukoss.

?He?s done this a couple of times here and it always brings a lot of tears,? she said. ?A lot of people say they can?t believe someone cares.

?It?s funny because people always say he?s the Jewish Santa Claus,? she added.?He says he just wants to give. He just wants to help people. It?s the season of giving and he just wants to make sure people are taken care of."

?I have such mixed emotions,? said Epstein last year after giving away more than $50,000. ?I feel great that I have the ability to be able to help, but I feel horrible that we have so many people receiving this help. And this is only a small segment of the people who are in need.

Erin Lukoss, executive director of the Bucks County Opportunity Council, and Joe Cuozzo handed out the holiday greetings from the Gene and Marlene Epstein Foundation containing the $100 bills to Fresh Connect

?It?s incumbent upon anybody and everybody that can afford to do something to help a neighbor, to do it,? Epstein continued. ?This shows you that our country still needs a lot of help. And it comes with individuals helping others. It?s not the government. It?s individuals. If you have a
neighbor who is hungry, give them some of you dinner. That?s all. It?s not rocket science.?

Epstein sold one of his prized antique cars to fund this year's giveaway. He did the same thing last year for the $50,000 giveaway.

?It?s more important that the people have a little buffer as opposed to me driving an antique car,? he said.

Among this year's recipients of Epstein's kindness was Joe, an out of work skilled worker who is grateful to the Bucks County Opportunity Council for the fresh produce and to the Epstein Foundation for the hand up.

"That's fantastic. Thank you, Mr. Epstein," he said as he opened his envelop to find the $100 bill inside. "I appreciate your generosity. It should help a lot."

Joe is struggling to make ends meet. He's been out of work and can't find a job despite the fact that he is skilled as a carpenter, electrician and a plumber.

"I'm applying everywhere, but I'm finding nothing," he said. "No one wants a 60-year-old. They're treating me like I'm dead. I have so many skills. I learned them all, but I can't use any of them," he said.

Joe is struggling to make ends meet. He's been out of work and can't find a job despite the fact that he is skilled as a carpenter, electrician and a plumber.

Two of the women in line said the biggest challenge out there right now is affording food. Both said inflation has made grocery shopping difficult.

"The price of food is just ridiculous. Are we that bad off?" asked one of the women. "This is going to help with Christmas," she added of the Epstein donation. "This will help get more food, more presents. Thank you, Mr. Epstein."

The council also holds weekly Fresh Connect food giveaways in Quakertown, Warminster and Ottsville in conjunction with its partnering agencies - Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, the United Way of Bucks County, Philabundance and the St. Mary Medical Center.

?Pretty much every day we are out there giving away food,? said Lukoss.

?During the pandemic we saw a huge spike. Then we saw that go back down, but as inflation has really caught up with people we have definitely seen an increase,? said Lukoss. ?Our weekly numbers here are between 400 and 500 households every week.?

People are eligible for the Fresh Connect food distributions who have an income of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline who have a need and live in Bucks County.

For more information about the Bucks County Opportunity Council, visit www.bcoc.org.