Woonsocket Adopt-a-Family: Woonsocket's Adopt-a-Family Does It Again

Monday, December 13, 2010

Woonsocket's Adopt-a-Family Does It Again

For the 8th year in a row, Adopt-a-Family has been able to answer the requests for holiday help from all the Woonsocket families who asked.

As of Saturday, December 11, all 1,011 families with more than 2,100 kids who applied through Family Resources and met the criteria set by the program had been notified to expect a telephone call sometime before Friday, December 18 telling them to come pick up their children's gifts.

This is the fourth year that Adopt-a-Family is working out of the Elks Lodge #850 at 380 Social Street, Woonsocket. Beginning at 12 noon on the Sunday of Distribution Week (December 12-19) the small army moved bags and boxes of coats, PJ's, socks, sneakers, dolls, Legos, balls, and who knows what else from their storage units in another city location to the large hall they rent annually from the Elks. There was enough merchandise to fill a 14' box truck, a 12' snowmobile trailer drafted for the move and several SUV's and pick-up trucks.

By 6:30 p.m. all the tables were set up and temporary dividing walls were in place and Adopt-a-Family was ready to go.

Starting at 8:00 a.m. today through the close on Friday at 8:00 p.m. a beehive of activity will be going on at the Elks Lodge on Social Street. Let's cross our fingers for sunny weather!

2011 Program Update--Final Numbers

This year we were able to provide for 2,216 children in 1,059 families through the efforts of our donors and volunteers. 2011 was the 9th year in a row that we were able to take care of every eligible family who applied.

This year our finances were seriously depleted by the 399 children provided for as they had no outside donors. If you would like to help replenish our treasury so that we can continue, send all cash donations to ADOPT-A-FAMILY, INC., P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI 02864. Remember all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Who We Are

Adopt-A-Family, Inc., was started by a group of volunteers and has been a favorite local charity in the Northern Rhode Island area since its inception. Our mission is to provide gifts of clothes and toys to children of needy families in Woonsocket.

The agency is an independent privately funded, non-profit organization founded in 1983. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency, making your donations tax-deductible. We are not part of a larger organization and only work in the Northern Rhode Island area.

Adopt-A-Family protects the privacy of both its donors and recipients.

Our mailing address is:
Adopt-a-Family, Inc.
P.O. Box 7665
Cumberland, RI 02864

Or leave a message at:
(401) 766-2291

Some of Our Statistics

Since we began keeping records in 1992, more than 30,000 children have been provided for in a city where 35% of the children under the age of 6 live below the poverty level.

We make a big effort to reach out to "working poor" families of Woonsocket.

Annually we bring approximately $350,000 worth of goods into the city through our donors' gifts of toys, clothes and money. We also raise approximately $20,000 per year to purchase toys, games and clothes for children we are unable to find outside donors for.

From Our Families

Personal Donor Family:
“Adopt-A-Family has given our family the opportunity to get back to the true spirit of Christmas...sharing with those who are less fortunate. The difference between this program and others is that it is very personalized.”

Corporate Donor:
“We get each employee personally involved...and to be part of the good that's being done. We let them go shopping one day, then have a short afternoon gift-wrapping party. It's much more real to them than a footnote in the company newsletter saying such-and-such a donation was made. It's inexpensive, and a good morale-building activity for the office.”

Recipient Family:
“There aren't enough words to thank you or describe how much my children needed a happy Christmas this year, and you not only made it happy, you made it the most wonderful Christmas we've ever had...Because of you, my children believe in Santa and the miracle of Christmas. I will be forever grateful...I could never have done it without you and I will never forget what you've done.”