Each December, something extraordinary happens in Bucks County. The room fills with laughter, the smell of breakfast, and the sound of children’s excitement as Dream Drive hosts its annual Children’s Christmas Breakfast, a magical celebration for more than 300 children in foster care and families facing hardship. But behind the wrapped presents and holiday décor lies a mission rooted in compassion, resilience, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel seen and valued.
That mission began with Taylor Kreiling, founder and president of Dream Drive, who turned her own struggles into a force for good.
“Throughout my early adulthood, I went through some incredibly challenging and dark times, seasons that tested my strength, my purpose, and my sense of self,” Kreiling, a Bucks County resident, shared. “In the midst of that, I discovered something unexpected: healing through helping others.”
Volunteering became her therapy, a way to transform pain into purpose. “While I couldn’t always change my own circumstances overnight,” she said, “I realized I could still show up for others. Supporting people who were struggling, maybe not in the exact same ways I had, gave my pain a purpose and turned empathy into action.”
That personal calling evolved into Dream Drive, a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to uplifting children in foster care and families in crisis across Bucks County. Officially established in 2023, Dream Drive had already spent nearly a decade making Christmas brighter. “We’ve been doing this event since 2013,” Kreiling said. “Before we became an official nonprofit, we worked with other organizations to make it happen.”
Today, Dream Drive operates year-round, with programs ranging from back-to-school drives and birthday boxes to holiday meals and emergency support. But its flagship event, the Children’s Christmas Breakfast, remains at the heart of it all.
Each year, the breakfast takes on a special theme, and 2025’s “Christmas in Paradise” will whisk children away to a tropical holiday escape, complete with Hawaiian crafts, photo booths, and island-inspired fun. More than 300 children will attend, each receiving personalized gifts from their individual wish lists, presents that volunteers shop for one by one.
“That’s what sets us apart,” Kreiling explained. “We don’t just collect generic toy donations. Every single child’s wish list comes directly from the organizations that sit down with them, so every gift is something they truly wanted.”
Those partner organizations include Bethany, Bethanna, Valley Youth House, Christ’s Home, Child & Family Focus, and other organizations in and around Bucks County. While the breakfast itself is a private event to protect the privacy of the families we serve, the community can still play a huge role. You can join in by donating to one of our fall hygiene, toy, or clothing drives, sponsoring a child’s personalized wish list, or rallying your friends, coworkers, or family to sponsor an entire family ($250 per child).
With the growing demand for basic essentials, Dream Drive has introduced a new lead for our hygiene collections. Taylor Wilker has stepped into this important role to help ensure families receive full-size personal care items. After connecting with our partners, we realized this area needed to become a top priority. Hygiene support is a year-round need, and we’re committed to creating a sustainable way for our community to help keep these shelves filled for local kids.
“We’ve experienced such incredible growth, which is amazing,” said Kreiling. “Taylor has done a fantastic job connecting with the community and setting up collection points for our hygiene drive. It’s such an important part of what we do, as hygiene products are often one of the hardest things for families to consistently budget for.”
Collection sites for the hygiene drive span across Bucks County.
In Northampton Township, you can find these sites at the: Northampton Township Police Department, Northampton Fire Department, Northampton Township Administration Building, Northampton Senior Center, Northampton Free Library, Northampton Valley Country Club, and Northampton Parks & Recreation Center.
In Middletown Township, collection sites are at the Langhorne Manor Police Department and Middletown Township Municipal Center.
In Upper Southampton, collection sites can be found at Upper Southampton Police Department/Admin Building, Upper Southampton Library, Upper Southampton Community Center, and Upper Southampton Water & Sewer Authority.
These hygiene kits are assembled for each child attending the Christmas Breakfast, providing essentials like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and other personal care items, simple necessities that help restore confidence and dignity.
In addition to the hygiene drive, Dream Drive’s Add-On Drives help “even out” gift piles among siblings, ensuring no child feels overlooked. Businesses and community partners host themed collection boxes throughout the county, gathering extra items such as cozy blankets, sensory toys, room décor, and gifts for teens, a group often forgotten during toy drives. This initiative is led by Karen Wojke. “We’re so fortunate to have strong leaders like Karen who can take an idea, run with it, and make it a success,” said Kreiling.
This year’s themes include “And to All a Good Night” (featuring bedtime comfort items such as plush toys, robes, and night lights), character toys, arts & crafts, and teen gifts like headphones, gift cards, and apparel. “These kinds of items are so important,” said Kreiling. “It’s something we’ve learned as we’ve evolved in this space that many kids are pulled from their homes in the middle of the night and arrive afraid, often with very few personal belongings. Bedtime can be especially difficult, and small comfort items can make a world of difference in helping them feel safe and cared for.”
Studies show that familiar or comforting items; like stuffed animals, blankets, or night lights can significantly reduce anxiety and promote emotional stability for children entering foster care, helping them adjust more easily to new environments.
Local businesses also participate in Pajama Angel Trees, where customers can sponsor a pair of pajamas for a child by picking an ornament from a decorated tree. Participating locations include Penn Therapy (multiple locations), Femme Gemz (Feasterville-Trevose), Villa Joe (Churchville), Spad’s Scoops (Bristol), Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Hair Quarters (Penndel).
For Kreiling, Dream Drive’s rapid growth from a small circle of about 25 volunteers to a community network of over 800+ active members has been humbling, but also deeply personal.
“When I was a kid, my mom used to say she didn’t care about my grades, only that I was kind,” said Kreiling. “That really stuck with me. I’ve always led with my heart, and Dream Drive is how I’ve learned to put that compassion into motion.”
What started as a holiday project has blossomed into a year-round movement driven by compassion. Dream Drive now supports children entering foster care, teens aging out of the system, and families rebuilding after crises. The nonprofit provides everything from emergency essentials to life-skills programs that teach confidence, job readiness, and self-sufficiency.
“At its core, Dream Drive isn’t just about giving things; it’s about giving hope,” Kreiling said. “We want every child to know that they are seen, supported, and capable of dreaming big.”
Community members can get involved by donating items through Dream Drive’s LinkTree at linktr.ee/dreamdrivebuckscom, which includes all active wishlists, signup links, and volunteer opportunities.
“This season, we just want every child to feel the warmth and wonder of the holidays,” Kreiling said. “Because when a child feels loved, they start to believe in their future, and that’s what Dream Drive is really about.”
For more information or to make a donation to Dream Drive’s Christmas Breakfast or Hygiene Drive, visit www.dreamdr.org.
