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As we approach the final weeks of the year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your continued belief in NOVA’s mission. This time of year is especially critical for us—support from individuals like you provides the essential resources that allow NOVA to offer trauma-informed counseling, forensic services, advocacy, and prevention education to thousands of individuals and families across Bucks County. Your generosity ensures that every person who turns to NOVA is met with compassion, expertise, and the promise of hope and healing.
The holiday season can be a time of joy and connection, but it also brings its own set of pressures and challenges. In this month’s newsletter, we share an important reminder: consent matters, even during celebrations. Giving children the space to decide whether they want to hug or kiss relatives is a simple but powerful way to teach bodily autonomy, respect, and personal boundaries—lessons that last a lifetime.
As we move through this season of celebration, reflection, and togetherness, all of us at NOVA wish you and your loved ones a safe, peaceful, and meaningful holiday. Please remember that if you or someone you know needs support, NOVA is always here. You are never alone.
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| Give the Gift of Hope and Healing This Holiday Season | | |
As we turn our thoughts toward the season of giving, hope, and renewal, we want to begin with a heartfelt thank you. Because of community support; NOVA has been a steady presence in Bucks County for more than 50 years, standing beside individuals and families who have experienced trauma, victimization, and crisis. This generosity has ensured that no one faces these challenges alone.
And yet, this year, more than ever, we are at a crossroads.
The lengthy delay in passing the state budget, combined with stagnant and reduced funding from local, state, and federal sources, has created deep challenges for organizations across Pennsylvania. For NOVA, the need is especially urgent. While the number of people seeking our services has remained steady, the depth and complexity of the trauma we’re responding to has grown significantly. More survivors are experiencing multiple forms of victimization layered with mental health challenges, financial strain, and housing insecurity.
In short: we are doing more with less. But we cannot continue without the support of caring individuals like you.
NOVA is the only organization in Bucks County that provides comprehensive, specialized services to victims of crime across the lifespan, from children and teens to adults and the elderly. When a person’s life is upended by violence, NOVA is the one place they can turn for safety, healing, and hope.
Each year, we stand beside victims of homicide, sexual assault, human trafficking, robbery, scams targeting the elderly, DUI crashes, and child abuse. Behind every number is a story like this one:
“It is not an understatement to say NOVA’s resources saved my life. [NOVA] was there for us in our darkest hour.”
This season, we invite you to join us in bringing peace, safety, and empowerment to our community. As NOVA works to meet growing needs with limited resources, your year-end gift will make an immediate and meaningful difference, helping ensure that no voice goes unheard, no survivor is turned away, and no vital service is left unfunded.
On behalf of everyone at NOVA, thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing that every person in our community deserves comfort, justice, and hope.
| | Teaching Consent This Holiday Season: Respecting Children’s Boundaries Matters
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The holiday season is a festive time for joyful celebrations with family and friends, and these moments can be great opportunities to help children establish their body boundaries. A family gathering that begins or ends with a child being told, “Give grandma a hug or kiss,” might seem like a lesson in kindness, but it can send mixed signals about who is in control of a child’s body. If a child does not want a hug—even from a well-meaning family member or friend—let them know it is okay to say “no.” High fives, fist bumps, waving, or simply offering a cheerful “hi” are wonderful alternatives that show kindness and respect without physical touch.
When we tell children they must hug or kiss an adult, we are not teaching consent. Consent is a crucial concept that empowers children to understand and assert their personal boundaries in their interactions with others. Teach children that saying “no” is okay and should be respected. In the same way, emphasize the importance of respecting others’ boundaries when they express them.
Consent is often discussed in the context of sexual situations, but it applies to any type of permission-seeking. Talk with children about asking for consent before borrowing someone else’s property, posting photos online, making group plans, or touching another person.
The holiday season also brings together extended family members who may not be familiar with your family’s approach to consent and boundaries. Encourage relatives and friends to ask before giving a hug or kiss, and offer alternative ways to greet or show affection that do not involve physical contact. By instilling these principles early on, we help children understand personal space and autonomy, as well as support them as they grow into adults who navigate relationships with respect and confidence.
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Alyssa Davis, Primary Prevention Coordinator - Pre-K, Elementary, and Middle School
Can you give a brief description of your role with NOVA?
As the Primary Prevention Coordinator for our preschool, elementary, and middle school programs, I help maintain and expand our educational impact on communities; support our enthusiastic NOVA Educators who work directly with students; assist educational staff with meeting both teaching and learning objectives; and try to keep pace with fast-moving technology trends that influence young people and their support systems.
How long have you been working at NOVA?
About three and one-quarter years.
What is your favorite part about working at NOVA?
Our Prevention, Education and Training Department has been helping protect children from harm for over 30 years. Receiving heartfelt testimonials from our clients and listening to our Educators share anecdotal stories from the field are motivating and inspiring. Through our prevention programming, children and teens learn about their rights and responsibilities in relationships, which can have a lifelong positive impact.
How do you support NOVA's mission in your role?
Our core mission is to empower children (minors), from preschoolers to teens, in knowing their rights, like the right to live in a safe world, where they should be protected from harm and supported on their growth journey. In our discussions with students, when it comes to sticky situations with peers, we talk about the importance of trusting our instincts, pausing and analyzing what’s happening, deciphering which intervention tools to use to prevent further harm, and seeking counsel from trusted adults.
What is one thing people should know about NOVA?
Across departments, NOVA team members demonstrate unparalleled care for their clients, like victims or survivors and their support systems, as well as students of all ages, including adults. Often, in talking with Bucks County residents, they express deep gratitude for NOVA’s presence and often surprise about our range of victim services that support people on their justice-seeking and healing journeys.
We appreciate your dedication to serving victims of crime!
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Gala Game Night - A Gala Benefiting NOVA
April 17, 2026
Save the Date for NOVA's 2026 Fundraising Gala: Gala Game Night! Join us on the evening of Friday, April 17, 2026 at The Warrington for a tremendous night of fun, food, and impact to support NOVA. Enjoy an open beer & wine bar, trivia, a silent auction, a four-course dinner, and a show-stopping game show finale with surprise pre-selected contestants—all for a great cause.
Learn more about the event, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities at novabucks.org/gala26.
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Upcoming Closures
The NOVA offices will have an early closure at 12 PM on Friday, December 12th due to a NOVA Staff holiday event. The NOVA offices will be fully closed on Thursday, December 25th and Friday, December 26th in observance of the Christmas holiday, as well as Thursday, January 1st in observance of New Years.
NOVA Thrift Shop will be closed Wednesday, December 24th, Thursday, December 25th, and Friday, December 26th in observance of the Christmas holiday. The store will also be closed on New Years Day: Thursday, January 1st.
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Try the NOVA RX Savings Card!
NOVA has partnered with WellSync to provide essential medications at discounted rates, all while benefiting NOVA. Every time you use your card, NOVA receives a $2 donation at no cost to you. Make a difference with each medication purchase!
Click the image to the right to access and download your printable card.
Print this page and cut out the RX Savings Card along the dotted line. Take your card to any of the 35,000 participating pharmacies. Present your card with your valid prescription and the pharmacies will apply the discount.
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Pick an Ornament, Make an Impact This Holiday Season
Now through December 31, NOVA Thrift Shop invites you to take part in NOVA’s Giving Tree — a new and meaningful way to support our mission during the holiday season. As many in our community look for opportunities to give back, the Giving Tree offers a simple and impactful way to make a difference while you shop.
During your next visit to NOVA Thrift Shop, stop by the Giving Tree and choose an ornament that reflects your preferred donation level. Each ornament corresponds to a different gift amount, allowing you to contribute in a way that feels right for you. Bring the ornament to the register, and your donation will be processed along with your purchase.
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Star: $25 Donation
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Present: $20 Donation
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Stocking: $10 Donation
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Mitten: $5 Donation
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Heart: $1 Donation
Your tax-deductible contribution directly supports NOVA’s work of providing trauma-informed services to victims and survivors of crime and strengthening prevention education throughout Bucks County. Every dollar helps expand and sustain programs that promote healing, safety, and empowerment across our community.
Thank you for supporting NOVA, embracing the Giving Tree, and helping make a meaningful impact this holiday season.
| | The Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking (BCAT) collaborated with Holy Family University to bring awareness to college students about the issues regarding human trafficking and sexual exploitation. | | NOVA and NOVA Thrift Shop staff were delighted to attend The Woman’s Club of Perkasie’s Thrifty Fashion Show! The fashion show highlighted thrifted looks, included a special raffle benefiting NOVA, and featured a NOVA Thrift Shop pop-up shopping area. | | |
NOVA was proud to be represented by our Victim Advocacy Coordinator, Stephanie Shantz, in Harrisburg for the launch of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s new Elder Exploitation Section. This important initiative will strengthen protections for older Pennsylvanians by focusing on cases of financial exploitation, deception, and theft.
NOVA is grateful to stand with fellow advocates and agencies committed to safeguarding our communities’ older adults.
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As a part of the Pearl S. Buck International Festival of Trees, this year’s NOVA tree sparkles with chandelier crystals collected by NOVA Thrift Shop in honor of the past, while it glows brightly for the future, illuminating the strength of survivors and our community.
Visit the Pearl S. Buck House now through January 4th to experience this shimmering masterpiece in all its glory. While you’re there, don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite tree!
| | A heartfelt thank you to American Heritage Credit Union for their generous delivery of brand-new Scholastic books to NOVA and the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center, offering our child clients comfort, optimism, and a sense of calm during unfamiliar or challenging moments. | | A huge thank you to the Central Bucks South Boys Lacrosse Team for hosting their annual food drive and coming out to NOVA to assemble bags of donations for families in need. For 18 years, this team has shown up with compassion and dedication, helping to ease the burden on families facing challenging times. | |
"The services we received at NOVA were a huge support and very much needed. I don't know how well I would be functioning for my daughter and family right now without them."
- NOVA Client
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4 New Members Join NOVA's Board Of Directors In Bucks Co. | The board is made up of leaders from a variety of different backgrounds and industries. | | | | | |
Magellan Health
This month, we're shining a spotlight on Magellan Health. We were grateful to recently welcome NOVA Board Member Lindsey Barcik and her colleagues to our office, where they generously volunteered their time to assemble client care packages filled with items meant to bring comfort and kindness to those we serve. Their thoughtful contributions help ensure that our clients feel supported during some of their most difficult moments.
Thank you to Lindsey and the entire Magellan Health team for your compassion, teamwork, and steadfast support of NOVA’s mission to empower victims and build safer communities.
If you or your organization is interested in volunteering with NOVA, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Julie Dugery at JulieD@novabucks.org.
| We are so grateful for our partnerships. Thank you for being a Voice Against Violence in our community! |
| Whether you donate an item from NOVA's Wish List, funds, or your time, know you are making a difference. | |
Elevate Your Impact in Style!
You can wear your support for your favorite local nonprofit and help spread the word about our mission in style.
From classic tees and cozy sweatshirts to hats and accessories, there's something for everyone, available in multiple colors and more designs than ever before!
Even better? With every purchase, NOVA receives 10–15% back to help fund our work supporting victims and stopping violence.
Browse the new collection and shop with purpose here.
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