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POWERED BY COMMUNITY-BCOC CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR SERVING THE COMMUNITY On Friday, November 6, 2026, over 200 people attended the Northampton Valley Country Club for a meaningful event, highlighting a year of important and impactful work. Community partners, clients, staff, supporters, donors, board members, and volunteers shared stories of gratitude, triumph, caring, and commitment. From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, BCOC helped over 62,000 Bucks County residents who struggle financially throughout its five main program areas: Housing, Food, Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES), Weatherization, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Emceed by Joseph Cuozzo, Development Director, speakers included Erin Lukoss, Executive Director of BCOC, Heather Foor, Director of Client Services, Tobi Bruhn, Executive Director of Foundations Community Partnership and BCOC Board Chair, Mateen Afzal of the Afzal Family Foundation, as well as award recipients, volunteers and BCOC program leaders.Erin Lukoss commented, “I've been part of this organization for over 26 years. And while the challenges facing our community have certainly changed over that time, one thing hasn't, the willingness of people in Bucks County to step up and help their neighbors.” She went on to reflect, “We help people through a crisis. We help them find stability. But what I love most is when we get to be a small part of helping someone accomplish something they once only dreamed about, so their family can thrive.”Attendees were also able to hear first-hand accounts of how BCOC programs had affected their lives starting with Dineka, an Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program participant, who moved the entire room to tears with her story of falling on hard times and about how working with her coach, someone full of care and compassion, changed the trajectory of her family’s life. Ian, whose path had taken a rocky turn and who decided he no longer wanted to accept a future with no light found his way to BCOC, set goals, was assisted with educational funding, and now he works to positively impact the journey of others. His success in the ES Program was also amplified by a Wheelz2Work car donation. Charlotte, an ES Program graduate, proud mother of four, who believes that the ES Program not only contributed to her success but has made all the difference in showing her children that their lives can be ones free from the generational poverty which she grew up struggling to navigate, often without heat and running water. She is determined to make sure they never know such pain and hardship.BCOC gave out three awards to honor those who go above and beyond to support them in their work. BLBB Charitable was awarded the "Building Bridges: Community Impact Award" for their continued support of BCOC over many years. Amazon was the recipient of the Community Connector Award for their enthusiastic involvement with BCOC. Numerous employees volunteered monthly at the HELP center, and substantial grants and equipment donations made a difference in the work BCOC does every day.Pat Houston was awarded the Ambassador of the Year Award for his years of dedication to BCOC. Pat volunteers with Retail Rescue operations and has acted as a vital liaison between his church and other organizations eager to assist with the BCOC mission.Danielle Bush, BCOC Volunteer and Community Connections Manager, spoke about the enormous contributions volunteers make to the success of BCOC initiatives. “This year’s theme, Powered by Community, couldn’t be more fitting. Our volunteers power our programs, strengthen our partnerships, support our neighbors, and help BCOC fulfill its mission every single day.” Last year, BCOC had 2,154 volunteer opportunities filled with a total of over 122,000 hours of donated time.BCOC is the lead anti-poverty, non-profit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to ending poverty by connecting people with the resources they need to thrive.BCOC has five major program areas: Housing, Food, Weatherization, Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) and the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program. Housing includes street outreach, rental and move in aid, and utility shut-off prevention. Food services supply food directly to families through a network of 74 food pantries and distribution sites. Weatherization services help families in reducing their energy costs. VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance. The ES Program assists individuals and families to leave poverty permanently through case management, education, and employment.For over 60 years, the Opportunity Council has served low-income families in Bucks County by helping them to stabilize when in crisis, garner resources to achieve a livable wage, gain additional education and training, and work towards economic self-sufficiency.
POWERED BY COMMUNITY-BCOC CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR SERVING THE COMMUNITY
On Friday, November 6, 2026, over 200 people attended the Northampton Valley Country Club for a meaningful event, highlighting a year of important and impactful work. Community partners, clients, staff, supporters, donors, board members, and volunteers shared stories of gratitude, triumph, caring, and commitment.
From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, BCOC helped over 62,000 Bucks County residents who struggle financially throughout its five main program areas: Housing, Food, Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES), Weatherization, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Emceed by Joseph Cuozzo, Development Director, speakers included Erin Lukoss, Executive Director of BCOC, Heather Foor, Director of Client Services, Tobi Bruhn, Executive Director of Foundations Community Partnership and BCOC Board Chair, Mateen Afzal of the Afzal Family Foundation, as well as award recipients, volunteers and BCOC program leaders.
Erin Lukoss commented, “I've been part of this organization for over 26 years. And while the challenges facing our community have certainly changed over that time, one thing hasn't, the willingness of people in Bucks County to step up and help their neighbors.” She went on to reflect, “We help people through a crisis. We help them find stability. But what I love most is when we get to be a small part of helping someone accomplish something they once only dreamed about, so their family can thrive.”
Attendees were also able to hear first-hand accounts of how BCOC programs had affected their lives starting with Dineka, an Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program participant, who moved the entire room to tears with her story of falling on hard times and about how working with her coach, someone full of care and compassion, changed the trajectory of her family’s life. Ian, whose path had taken a rocky turn and who decided he no longer wanted to accept a future with no light found his way to BCOC, set goals, was assisted with educational funding, and now he works to positively impact the journey of others. His success in the ES Program was also amplified by a Wheelz2Work car donation. Charlotte, an ES Program graduate, proud mother of four, who believes that the ES Program not only contributed to her success but has made all the difference in showing her children that their lives can be ones free from the generational poverty which she grew up struggling to navigate, often without heat and running water. She is determined to make sure they never know such pain and hardship.
BCOC gave out three awards to honor those who go above and beyond to support them in their work. BLBB Charitable was awarded the "Building Bridges: Community Impact Award" for their continued support of BCOC over many years.
Amazon was the recipient of the Community Connector Award for their enthusiastic involvement with BCOC. Numerous employees volunteered monthly at the HELP center, and substantial grants and equipment donations made a difference in the work BCOC does every day.
Pat Houston was awarded the Ambassador of the Year Award for his years of dedication to BCOC. Pat volunteers with Retail Rescue operations and has acted as a vital liaison between his church and other organizations eager to assist with the BCOC mission.
Danielle Bush, BCOC Volunteer and Community Connections Manager, spoke about the enormous contributions volunteers make to the success of BCOC initiatives. “This year’s theme, Powered by Community, couldn’t be more fitting. Our volunteers power our programs, strengthen our partnerships, support our neighbors, and help BCOC fulfill its mission every single day.” Last year, BCOC had 2,154 volunteer opportunities filled with a total of over 122,000 hours of donated time.
BCOC is the lead anti-poverty, non-profit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to ending poverty by connecting people with the resources they need to thrive.
BCOC has five major program areas: Housing, Food, Weatherization, Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) and the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program. Housing includes street outreach, rental and move in aid, and utility shut-off prevention. Food services supply food directly to families through a network of 74 food pantries and distribution sites. Weatherization services help families in reducing their energy costs. VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance. The ES Program assists individuals and families to leave poverty permanently through case management, education, and employment.
For over 60 years, the Opportunity Council has served low-income families in Bucks County by helping them to stabilize when in crisis, garner resources to achieve a livable wage, gain additional education and training, and work towards economic self-sufficiency.