CRANBERRY TWP — A nonprofit group started by three township residents a few years ago is looking to help even more needy families this holiday season.

Neighbors for Neighbors was founded by Amy Roy, Dani Jo McClane and Jeanette Valentine. For the past three years they have worked to provide gifts anonymously to needy families in the area.

The group works with the Seneca Valley School District and other schools or organizations that can identify families who are struggling to get by and could use some gifts or basic household items.

Seneca Valley guidance counselors and staff discreetly identify needy children and talk to them or their parents to come up with wish lists — a short list of gifts they would like to receive, said Linda Andreassi, Seneca Valley director of communications.

The school passes along a wish list for each of these families and Neighbors for Neighbors then distributes those lists to donors in the community who buy the items. The gifts are collected and given to the families through the school district.

Last year the group provided gifts to 240 people, 150 of whom were students at Seneca Valley. The group has also worked with the Mars and Hopewell districts and group homes in Pittsburgh.

Roy said the group initially intended to focus on helping poor families in Pittsburgh, but it was surprised to learn that 17 percent of the families in the Seneca Valley district live below the poverty line.

“These are families that are working hard but are still struggling to make ends meet. Some of them might have to make a decision between keeping the lights on and getting a present for Christmas,” she said.

Past gifts have included toys, bikes, laptop computers and video games. Some of the poorer families even ask for much-needed household necessities that they had been living without, such as pillows, bedding or winter coats.

Though the donors and the recipients don’t meet, the group has received a number of anonymous “thank you” notes.

One such note, posted on the group’s website reads:

“Thank you for showing God’s face through all of your kindness! My children will know how these are given to them. You will never know the sheer happiness this has brought our family. We needed help so bad! God answered our prayers through you all!”

The group this year launched a website, www.N4NPGH.org where people can make donations or get contact the organization.

It also has partnered with Cranberry Township and several businesses that are helping distribute wish lists and collect gifts. The locations include: the township municipal center, 9Round Fitness, Young Brothers Tae Kwon Do and Psycle Fitness.