Christmas Adoption program under way

First list of the season highlighting needy families

    REGIONAL – Needy families will get some help from generous donors this holiday season as part of the annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas program in Shelby County.
    The Christmas season is just around the corner and a few families already are signed up for adoption.
    Since the program was first started 58 years ago by the Harlan Newspapers, more than 3,900 low-resource families in need of assistance have had a merrier holiday season.  In 2014, 114 families were adopted.
    Although administration of the Adopt-A-Family is being handled by West Central Community Action, the Harlan Newspapers remains actively involved in promoting and publicizing the adoptions.
    In the past, the Adopt-A-Family program has helped to spread holiday cheer to a number of families that might not have much at this time of the year.
    Dena Matthews, WCCA Outreach Worker and Family Development Specialist, is helping to administer the program for the Outreach Center this year, and she said that families desiring “adoption” as well as potential donors should contact West Central Community Action. Calls will be taken Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. or 2-4:30 p.m., for persons wishing to be adopted or to adopt a family. Contact West Central Community Action and ask for Matthews or the Christmas adoption program.
    The deadline to sign up for those wishing to be adopted this year is Monday, Dec. 14.
    Matthews said the program is being administered similarly to last year.  “We are designating one day for people who have adopted families to drop the gifts off at our office,” she said, that being Monday, Dec. 21 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  “There will be three days for families who have been adopted to pick up their gifts,” she added.  Those dates are Monday-Wednesday, December 21-23 (office closes early on the 24th, Christmas Eve).  Families will be called as soon as their gifts are ready for pick-up.
    If these dates don’t work, special arrangements can be made by calling 755-5602.
    Beginning today, and each week in the Harlan Newspapers, adoptees will be listed by number. Donors will then choose by number which family or individual they wish to adopt.
    Shelby County families with children ages 18 and under, along with elderly ages 65+, who are LIHEAP eligible and at or below 150 percent poverty level may apply for Christmas Adoption. This program is especially designed to help families who are facing financial hardships and are unable to afford a Christmas dinner or new toys and warm clothing for their children.
    Said Matthews, “The Shelby County Holiday Adoption Program hopes to address the needs of low-income households, children and families during the holidays and winter season.”  
    According to WCCA, donors are asked to choose the number of the family or individual they wish to adopt and then contact West Central as to what the family would like. How much is spent on the individual or family being adopted is left to the discretion of the donor, Matthews said.
    Individuals wishing to make cash contributions instead of adopting a family are asked to bring cash or a check to the WCCA Outreach office at 1018 6th St., Harlan, Ia. 51537. These contributions are pooled together and used for families/individuals and are recorded in the newspaper as anonymous.
    This year the adoption program is encouraging businesses and groups to adopt a family (or multiple families) rather than sponsor a toy drive.  “Last year there were 31 families who were not adopted through the program,” said Matthews.
    “West Central Community Action was able to provide gift cards and other items to these families with miscellaneous donations received from community members.  We are seeing a special need to get the families adopted  with teens (and tweens) who are a bit trickier to shop for.”
    Following is the first list of the holiday season:
1)    Female - 40, female -18.
2)    Male - 55, male - 53, female - 53, male - 12, male - 7, male - 5.
3)    Female - 29, male - 2 1/2 (Adopted by Concerned, Inc.)
4)    Male - 43, female - 40, female - 18.
5)    Female - 27, female - 13, female -8, male - 2.
6)    Male - 53, female - 47, female - 7, female - 6.
7)    Female - 53, female - 15.
8)    Male - 9, female - 6, male - 3, male - 2 (Adopted by Shelby County State Bank employees).
9)    Female - 18.
10)    Female - 57, male - 16.
11)    Female - 70 (Adopted by First United Methodist Church).
12)    Male - 30, female - 24, male - 7, female - 5, female - 2 (Adopted by Variety Distributors employees).
13)    Female - 34, male - 15, male - 15, female - 6.
14)    Male - 30, female - 29, female - 3, male - 1 (Adopted by First United Methodist Church).
15)    Female - 30, male - 9, female - 4, female - 8 mos.
16)    Female - 26, male - 2, male - 2, female - 1.
17)    Male - 60, female - 40, male - 18, female - 15.
18)    Male - 43, female - 43, female - 16.
19)    Male - 30, female - 24, female - 4, female - 2, female - 6 mos. (Adopted by First United Methodist Church).
20)    Female - 52, female - 36, male - 9.
21)    Male - 34, female - 29, male - 3, male - 7 mos.
22)    Female - 35, female - 14, male - 11.
23)    Female - 30, male - 7.
24)    Female - 34, female - 18, male - 13, male - 11, female - 7, male - 4.
25)    Female - 46, male - 18, female - 17, female - 13.
26)    Male - 12, female - 6, female - 5.
27)    Male - 33, female - 27, female - 3, female - 2.
28)    Male - 51, male - 18, male - 12.
29)    Female - 23, male - 3.
30)    Female - 17, female - 16, male - 13.
31)    Female - 26, male - 6, female - 2, female - 1.
32)    Male - 60, male - 16.
33)    Female - 48, male - 17, female - 15, female - 13.
34)    Male - 29, female - 29, male - 8, female - 7, female - 4.

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
news2@harlanonline.com

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