ADOPT-A-FAMILY NEEDS YOUR HELP
--Local Christmas Charity Fears Hundreds of Children Will Go Without--
WOONSOCKET November 22, 2010—For the first time in 2003, and each year since, Adopt-A-Family has been able to help every eligible family who applied. Last year, that experience was repeated, and they were able to find donors to ‘adopt’ an amazing 2,311 children in 1,119 needy Woonsocket families; enough children to fill 100 classrooms.
But this year is shaping up to be another story. On the bright side, as of Monday, 742 families have been matched with donors, according to Sandra Soares, Program Coordinator of this Woonsocket charity now in its 29th year. On the not-so-bright side, 1,040 families have applied for help. That leaves nearly 300 families and approximately 625 children without sponsors and possibly nothing under the tree Christmas morning.
When asked to explain their need for assistance, Soares said the families’ statements are as simple as income barely covering rent and utilities and as dire as being homeless after having fled abusive relationships. Application after application mentions that they have no winter clothes for their children. Many have lost jobs, and others are working shorter hours so that they can attend college, GED, and ESL classes with the hope of making a better life for themselves and their families. Soares also said that they have received applications from 16 families with 32 children who are living in Woonsocket homeless shelters.
The official deadline to adopt a family this year is December 4th but Soares said she will keep sending wish lists to donors who offer to help right up until Distribution Week, which this year is December 12-18. Donors are asked to give each child they adopt a complete Christmas by buying three to four clothing items, and two or three toys. Anonymity is a key feature of the program. Neither the donor nor adopted family knows the other's identity. Donors are provided with Wish Lists of the children that include their first names, sizes, interests and needs which make the experience a very personal one.
A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Adopt-A-Family, Inc. is a 29-year-old charity based in Woonsocket, RI. For more information or to offer to help a family, contact Adopt-A-Family at 401-766-2291. You can also contact them at Adoptafamily@cox.net.
--Local Christmas Charity Fears Hundreds of Children Will Go Without--
WOONSOCKET November 22, 2010—For the first time in 2003, and each year since, Adopt-A-Family has been able to help every eligible family who applied. Last year, that experience was repeated, and they were able to find donors to ‘adopt’ an amazing 2,311 children in 1,119 needy Woonsocket families; enough children to fill 100 classrooms.
But this year is shaping up to be another story. On the bright side, as of Monday, 742 families have been matched with donors, according to Sandra Soares, Program Coordinator of this Woonsocket charity now in its 29th year. On the not-so-bright side, 1,040 families have applied for help. That leaves nearly 300 families and approximately 625 children without sponsors and possibly nothing under the tree Christmas morning.
When asked to explain their need for assistance, Soares said the families’ statements are as simple as income barely covering rent and utilities and as dire as being homeless after having fled abusive relationships. Application after application mentions that they have no winter clothes for their children. Many have lost jobs, and others are working shorter hours so that they can attend college, GED, and ESL classes with the hope of making a better life for themselves and their families. Soares also said that they have received applications from 16 families with 32 children who are living in Woonsocket homeless shelters.
The official deadline to adopt a family this year is December 4th but Soares said she will keep sending wish lists to donors who offer to help right up until Distribution Week, which this year is December 12-18. Donors are asked to give each child they adopt a complete Christmas by buying three to four clothing items, and two or three toys. Anonymity is a key feature of the program. Neither the donor nor adopted family knows the other's identity. Donors are provided with Wish Lists of the children that include their first names, sizes, interests and needs which make the experience a very personal one.
A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Adopt-A-Family, Inc. is a 29-year-old charity based in Woonsocket, RI. For more information or to offer to help a family, contact Adopt-A-Family at 401-766-2291. You can also contact them at Adoptafamily@cox.net.
