Woonsocket Adopt-a-Family

Notes From Some Grateful People

2012-01-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some excerpts from Thank You letters we have received from the families:

I am a mother of three.......full time employee of Hanora Spinning in Woonsocket and furthermore I am a college student. I am going to college so that I can provide a better life for my children as well as myself. My two boys are still young and still hold the magic of Christmas inside their hearts, if it had not been for you, Christmas would not have come this year.

My husband was diagnosed with MS a month before Christmas so as a family we weren't going to be able to afford any Christmas with all the tests we had to pay for. You gave us our Christmas, and another year that the belief in Santa lives on!

Thank you very much for the gifts. Michael loves his boots. He will not take them off. Savannah loves the art supplies.

Your gifts meant that my son would have gifts to open this Christmas, clothes that he needed and toys to enhance his learning, that I was not able to get for him.

Their favorite gifts were the Pillow Pets! They each received their favorite animal which made them all extremely excited. They all sleep with their Pillow Pets every night!

My son and I wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the kind and beautiful family who made these days so happy for us.

Her jacket was her favorite, because her last one was lost so all she had was a couple of sweaters to get her through the week. She puts her jacket on before school and always says "Dad look at me and my new coat." She loves it so much.

Your generosity meant mom not having to choose between paying bills and putting presents under the tree. It also meant that a tough year (divorce, a first-ever move, new school & friends) could end on a positive and promising note.

Got Tape?

2012-01-08T06:22:00.001-08:00

Every year beginning December 26, we watch for sales of toys and clothes to be used the following program year for the children we have no donors for.

In 2011 we had 399 children who fell into that category. Because we committed to turn no eligible child away, our inventory and treasury were dramatically depleted.

We wrap and tag all the gifts for those kids, and we go through miles of wrapping paper. Right after Christmas we begin searching for wrap, boxes, bags and tags at sale prices.

Here's a photo of the first shopping: 110 rolls of wrapping paper, 160 gift boxes and 30 packages of sparkly tissue paper. As of this writing, we have another 200 rolls and 150 gift bags. It may sound like a lot but we had a similar inventory last year and after wrapping, bagging and tagging for those 399 kids, there wasn't a scrap left.

Congratulations For a Job Well Done

2011-12-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Despite what looked like a disastrous holiday season just two weeks ago, for the ninth year in a row, the hard working, dedicated Board of Directors and their volunteers were able to say YES to each and every child whose family asked for help and met the criteria of Adopt-a-Family, Inc.

A total of 2,216 children in 1,059 families received gifts of toys and clothes directly from donors in the community or through donations of money used to shop.

During the week of December 11 early 5,000 bags of gifts arrived at the Elks Lodge on Social Street in Woonsocket. Those bags, purchased specifically for their 'adoptees', were then picked up by their families. Those 5,000 bags that came into the Lodge then went out of the Lodge into the grateful hands of needy families in Woonsocket.

All was not as simple as it sounds, however. At the beginning of the week the Board knew that there were approximately 250 kids without donors. Two-hundred fifty kids who would receive nothing from the program and because of the financial situations of their parents, might have nothing at all for Christmas.

But by the end of the week, the volunteers had put together bags of gifts for each and every one of those children. When all was tallied, gifts for 399 kids were waiting for pick up through their efforts. All of this was done during one week by volunteers who worked 10-12 hours a day shopping, wrapping, tagging and bagging.

By 6 pm Friday night, all the gifts had been picked up by the families, and a very tired but satisfied group of volunteers packed up and went home. Home to prepare for their own families holiday.

Do You Have a Few Minutes?

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Next week is what we call Distribution Week. It's the week when generous folks in the community bring us bags of gifts of toys and clothes that they are anonymously providing for people they don't know; children of families who are just barely keeping a roof over their heads and food in their bellies.

We know not everyone has the extra money in their pockets to give to these families.

But do you have some time to give?

From Sunday, December 11 through Saturday, December 17 we will take in 5,000 bags and boxes of gifts for nearly 2,000 children. During that week we usually have 150-180 volunteers to help out. For some reason this year we have far fewer volunteers.

What's that saying? Many hands make work light. We are in need of volunteers.

If you have a little time and would be willing to give us a few hours work, please call. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Bev Denis, would love to hear from you. Give her a call at 401-769-3429. We're a really nice bunch of people. You'll like us and the experience will make you feel good.

Christmas the Old-Fashioned Way

2011-12-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

We have 1,941 children lined up with 919 donors. Pretty good!

Now the bad news: We have another 300+ children without donors. Three hundred kids whose parents may soon be getting letters that say "we're sorry, we won't be able to send your children Christmas gifts this year because we don't have enough donors."

Yes, it's been a bad year financially for many, many folks. That fact has been all too obvious to us because we have seen a significant increase in requests for help from working families.

We know we can't help everyone who asks but we hoped we would be able to help more. But it's not looking good.

So many of our donors tell us how much they enjoy our program; enjoy helping people in need. Over and over again we hear "this is getting back to what Christmas is supposed to be, what it used to be."

As we often say, we serve two sides of the community; the obvious being the families who ask for help but we also serve another side....those who want to do something, help someone but don't know how to do it. We give them that opportunity. The opportunity to get to get back to Christmas The Old-Fashioned Way.

Adopt-a-Family Behind the Scenes

2011-12-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Board of Directors of Adopt-a-Family is made up of 19 people who work all year to make this happen.

Although some are putting in more hours now as we near the week of December 11 and the culmination of a year's work, we are all getting ready.

Most of our board meets weekly from September through November to screen ALL the applications, 1200 of them, before we send them out to donors.

The donors and recipients have to be added to a database, a job shared by a couple of us.

We work together to prepare four mailings by hand that total 750-1,100 pieces each.

We have a group who works all year scouting out bargains and sales of clothes and toys to give to the kids we have no donors for.

We have people who call 150+ volunteers to prepare the schedule for the week in December to make sure every job is covered.

This all happens BEFORE the week in December that we spend at the Elks taking in gifts for 2,200 kids that we sort, store and then distribute to 1,110 families. That week we are there from 8 am to 8 pm. Many of us take a week’s vacation and many work all day and then come and work until closing.

The point is, we're a team.

From the Desk of Sandy Soares

2011-11-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

As I write this, I have applications on my desk from families with 472 children who are eligible for our program for whom we have no donors.

We are going to have to turn many away this year. I'm guessing it will be 250-300 children which means, because we provide most of the clothes and toys they get each year, these kids will probably have few, maybe no, gifts.

Many of these children are from single-parent families; some working, some not, who struggle monthly to keep a roof over their heads and food in their kitchens. We all know how the costs of utilities and food have escalated this year.

Many of these families "run out of money before they run out of month."

If this happens it will be the first time in nine years that we have had to turn families away. And as I sit here looking at these applications I wonder "who stays and who goes."

Who Needs Your Help

2011-11-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

Here are a few answers to "Please explain your need for assistance" which is part of the application all of our families complete:

I just got a job and am only working between 15-20 hours a week.

In need of help cause I was involved in a house fire and lost everything.

It's just me and my 2 boys and I just recently found a job and things are really tight.

Single dad and I cannot afford gifts for my kids. I take 2 buses to work everyday.

On 11-09-11 my house caught on fire and I lost everything. I'm a single mother starting all over.

My husband has been in an accident that left him disabled. He is unable to work. He is a quadraplegic. It is hard only having one income at this time. He is in a nursing home.

Things are tight. I am very grateful for this program. Just to see a smile on my kids's faces is special.

From the Desk of Sandy Soares

2011-11-25T07:16:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is over, and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday spent with loved ones. I also hope that we all took a minute during the day yesterday to think of our service men and women who spent their Thanksgivings far from home and their loved ones.

Those of us who don't have someone serving in the military tend to forget about those who do. Now Christmas is just ahead. Again, we need to remember those far from home who won't be home for Christmas and wish them a safe and speedy return to spend many future holidays with friends and families.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, the people behind the scene who dedicate time and much energy to Woonsocket's Adopt-a-Family program are busy matching families in need and with generous donors from the community.

As of this writing we have approximately 700 families, a little more than 1,400 children, matched with donors. Donors are people who will make sure these kids have toys and clothes under their tree Christmas morning.

As amazing as that number sounds, we still have nearly 300 families, another 650 children, who we do not have donors for. Many of those who are applying this year are working poor. People who have jobs but after paying their monthly bills have nothing left to buy Christmas gifts with.

Last year was the 8th year in a row that we were able to find donors for 100% of the eligible families who applied. It's very likely we won't be able to make this the 9th year; which means we will soon be sending letters out to many families saying we're sorry but we can't help them this year.

If you would like to help either by 'adopting' a family or making a donation to help with our expenses (we are all volunteers, the money goes to operating costs such as rent, postage and printing) please call us at 401-766-2291 or email us at adoptafamily@cox.net.

Many have had a difficult year financially, and I know you are getting requests from many charities nationwide. Adopt-a-Family gives you a chance to help your neighbors, and we need your help.

Please call or write today and help us make this our 9th year of 100% success.

MY LIFE - Time to give thought to Christmas | The Valley Breeze

2011-11-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

Here's an article that our long-time volunteer, board member, past president and Distribution Week Kitchen Elf Extraordinaire Rhea Powers recently included in her column in the Valley Breeze.

MY LIFE - Time to give thought to Christmas | The Valley Breeze

Adopt-a-Family 2011 Program in Full Swing

2011-11-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Board of Directors of Woonsocket's favorite charity Adopt-a-Family, Inc., met on August 2 to begin working towards Distribution Week 2011 which this year will be the week of December 11. A week when donors and volunteers come together to bring holiday joy to more than 2,000 children in the neediest families in Woonsocket.

Family Resources, the agency that takes the applications from all those apply, began accepting applications on September 15 and will continue doing so until November 18, 2011. As of this writing approximately 500 families have been matched with donors. By the end of November 18 we expect to receive applications from another 500-600 families.

If you would like to help, you can do so by: adopting a family, making a cash donation or volunteering during Distribution Week December 11-17, 2011.

Adopt-a-Family is a little program run by a small group of volunteers, a group that swells to a small army of nearly 200 during Distribution Week in December. If you've been reading about us over the years and always thought "Someday I'm going to get involved with that Adopt-a-Family program in Woonsocket!" Make this year the year.

Please call us at 401-766-2291 and leave a message about how you would like to help. Your call will be promptly returned. We look forward to hearing from you.

2011 Elected Officers and Board of Directors

2011-04-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

At its Annual Meeting held on March 1, 2011, Adopt-A-Family, Inc., held an election of Executive Officers and Board of Directors.

The following were elected for one-year terms: Catherine Savage, President; Julie Wunderlich Vice President; Sandra Soares, Secretary; Debra Mitchell, Treasurer.

The following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors: Roberta Aubin, Pauline Belisle, Beverly Denis, Patricia Dubois, Diane Fregeau, Janice Geddes, Joan Powers, Rhea Powers, Brenda Viscione, Deana Robidoux, Sue Rennie, Catherine Savage, Sandra Soares, Tina Stothard, Gail Zak, Debra Mitchell, Julie Wunderlich.

The Adopt-A-Family organization is a 29 year-old charity based in Woonsocket, RI which finds donors to provide Christmas gifts of toys and clothing for children in needy Woonsocket families. In 2010 the Program provided for 2,111 children. For more information contact Adopt-A-Family at 401-766-2291, or write to Adopt-A-Family, P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI 02864

The End of Another Successful Program Year

2011-01-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

During the week of December 12 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily approximately 175 volunteers worked together receiving, logging, sorting and distributing 4,000 bags and boxes of gifts to 1,015 needy Woonsocket families with 2,111 kids all provided for by members of the community.

A Letter from a Donor

2010-12-17T03:36:00.001-08:00

This was included in an email received in our mailbox.

Hello Sandy,

Well Santa's sleigh was loaded this evening with lots of toys and warm things for my family. I can tell you I had a wonderful time being Santa's elf for two little girls after having 3 grown sons, 2 nephews and 3 teenage grandsons in my family. My hope is that my decisions are both Santa and Mother approved.

My thoughts as I was gathering their gifts was that I and my family's Mom are sharing in the true meaning of Christmas giving. Having had to apply for heating assistance one cold winter myself, I understand the feelings,and thoughts one has when faced with adversity.

Since that time I made a promise to return the kindness I was shown and to pay it forward. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that this Mom be able to pay it forward some day. I know she is a caring, compassionate person, having chosen to work in the medical field.

May God bless this little family, and may their Christmas be merry and bright. God bless Adopt a Family for allowing me the privilege of participating and making this Christmas one of the most rewarding experiences for me.

I must go bed down the reindeer now, so they will be ready to pull the sleigh for delivery tomorrow at noon, and to all a good night!

P.S. Please hold good thoughts and prayers for our service women and men. May God keep you safe.

Woonsocket's Adopt-a-Family Does It Again

2010-12-13T03:02:00.000-08:00

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!

Press Release

2010-11-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

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.

From the Desk of Sandy Soares

2010-11-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

The Recipient Committee of Adopt-a-Family continues to meet weekly to process applications submitted by Woonsocket families seeking help for the holidays. Family Resources Community Action located on Main Street in Woonsocket meets with and screens the applicants and passes the applications on to AAF.

Part of the application filled out by families is a section that asks "Why do you need this help?"

Here are a few examples of the needs expressed by our families:

I am a single mother of 5 children. I have one foster child that was very sick for a long time and I'm trying to adopt him. I am unemployed at the time and short on money.

I've been living from place to place. My daughter finally has a place to call her own but it's still tough.

Left my husband due to domestic violence. Now starting over in our own apartment, going back to school in November for nursing.

Head of household had received unemployment after losing job. Unemployment ended. Raising children on very limited income.

To date we have found donors for 584 families with over 1,200 children. The families must apply no later than November 19, 2010. We expect requests for help from 500-600 more families.

If you would like more information about how you can help, please call us 401-766-2291 and leave a message or email us.

2010 Program Year Begins

2010-10-06T04:18:00.001-07:00

The Adopt-a-Family program in Woonsocket has officially begun. Family Resources, Inc., the CAP agency that meets with prospective recipients to complete the necessary forms to apply began their intake recently. The AAF Committee which reviews those applications began meeting on October 5 and will continue weekly through the end of November.

Also on October 5 the mailing that includes the forms necessary to receive information about children they will 'adopt' was also mailed to prospective donors.

The matching of donors with recipients will begin shortly.

If you are interested in 'adopting' a family this holiday season, please send your name, address and telephone number to our email address and the necessary forms will be mailed to you.

If you have questions, please contact us at 401-766-2291. Please leave a message and be patient, we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Adopt-a-Family Meeting with Family Resources

2010-04-09T03:34:00.000-07:00

Even when no one else has Christmas and the holidays on their minds, some of the members of the Board of Directors of Woonsocket's Adopt-a-Family are thinking about it.

On April 8, while local thermometers flirted with 80 degrees, Adopt-a-Family Program Coordinator Sandy Soares and Vice President Julie Wunderich met with Deb Grasso, Family Advocate, and Elena Marchand, Volunteer Coordinator, at Family Resources Community Action.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the 2010 program year. Family Resouces is the local agency that Adopt-a-Family partners with to reach the needy families that we provide holiday help for annually. FRCA intake workers initially meet with the Woonsocket families to complete the applications necessary to be considered for our program.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the application process and ways to improve and streamline the process. During the two-hour meeting some of the topics discussed included beginning intake earlier than usual, editing the application form to provide better details about the needs of the families and verifying information about the families.

Everyone at the meeting agreed that more frequent meetings between AAF and FRCA would be helpful. At the wrap-up of the meeting Deb showed Sandy and Julie the conference rooms used by the intake workers to meet with and take the applications from the needy families.

Although the tables and the room were empty, looking around, Sandy said "I can picture what this room must look like when the 1200 families are meeting with FRCA volunteers. During our part of processing the applications sometimes we feel overwhelmed. At that point we are just dealing with piles of green forms. FRCA has to physically meet with each and every family. It gives Julie and I a whole new appreciation for this part of the program. We couldn't do what we do without Family Resources. It's been a long relationship between the two entities and one we hope continues for a very long time."

ADOPT-A-FAMILY, INC. ELECTS 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2010-03-03T04:26:00.000-08:00

At its Annual Meeting held on March 2, 2010, Adopt-A-Family, Inc., held an election of Executive Officers and Board of Directors.

The following were elected for one-year terms: Catherine Savage, President; Julie Wunderlich Vice President; Sandra Soares, Secretary; Debra Mitchell, Treasurer.

The following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors: Roberta Aubin, Pauline Belisle, Beverly Denis, Patricia Dubois, Diane Fregeau, Janice Geddes, Joan Powers, Rhea Powers, Brenda Viscione, Deana Robidoux, Sue Rennie, Catherine Savage, Sandra Soares, Tina Stothard, Gail Zak, Debra Mitchell, Julie Wunderlich.

The Adopt-A-Family organization is a 28 year-old charity based in Woonsocket, RI which finds donors to provide Christmas gifts of toys and clothing for children in needy Woonsocket families. In 2009 the Program provided for 2,311 children. For more information contact Adopt-A-Family at 401-766-2291, or write to Adopt-A-Family, P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI 02864

Thankful Adopt-a-Family Recipients

2010-02-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

The program year for 2009 is just about wrapped up at Adopt-a-Family. Our last job is to get the Thank You letters written by the recipients to their donors thanking them for their generosity. To the people who shop, wrap and tag the gifts for those they "adopt."

Some of the letters are very touching. Here's a sampling of some from this year:

"The stockings were the best. It was so sweet and touching, it made me cry. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart. Now we have something for every year to remember all of you by."

"I'm dearly grateful being the head of the household just barely making ends meet. My family were without the word "Merry." We are truly in a forever state of appreciation that you have marked our Christmas in a special way. As a Christian I quote the bible when it says that you shall reap what you sow. You have sowed in abundance so will you reap greater. God bless you and your family with health, peace and Joy. P.S. I know that my financial state next year will be greater. So I will sow to a less fortunate family."

"It brings tears to my eyes when I think of what a blessing you were to my family. You were amazingly generous to us. Thank you so very much!! Abigail loves her new brown furry boots. Caroline also loves her new fleece pajamas. The children all enjoyed the new sled. It goes farther than any sled they've had. Nathanial was thrilled with his transformer. He said he just 'knew' Santa would bring him one because he asked him for one. Such childlike faith!"

"The gifts were a blessing. Their eyes lit up with every gift they unwrapped."

"Thank you for the generous amount of food groceries. Thank you!! I was speechless when I saw it. I can't say or express my gratitude for the diapers as well. You took the little info of the boys and acknowledged their likes. They were surprised to see the characters they like."

"God bless your home! Thank you very much for making our Christmas happen. We love every one of the gifts we got and we are sending you a lot hugs from the bottom of our heart."

"Thank you so much. I couldn't believe all the gifts! Thank you so much for the coats & boots. They are very much needed. You are wonderful to help people you don't even know. I don't know what I would have done this year for Christmas."

"There was no favorite gift. They were all great. Just the fact that you took the time out of your day and the money out of your pocket means more to us than what was received."

"I hope you had a great Christmas and I hope that God blesses you everyday. Without people like you in this world I don't know what I would do."

"I am so thankful that you were so generous to my children this Christmas. It was difficult just recently getting laid off and not knowing what they would have. My wish for you is that someone could do such a nice thing for you as you did for us in a time of need."

"My wish for you is that you never know hardship and that you and your family are happy and safe always!"

I have to say that sentiments like these make all the hard work done by the volunteers and the donors very worthwhile.

From the desk of Sandy Soares

2009-12-19T04:20:00.000-08:00

Distribution Week of Adopt-a-Family 2009 is finished. Here are the stats of what we accomplished:

2,311 children in 1,118 families received gifts of toys and clothes

Beginning last Sunday afternoon and wrapping up this morning, many of us devoted 55+ hours this week to pull it all together. I’d like to acknowledge each of the members of the Board of Directors and thank them for their incredible dedication to this very special program.

Pauline Belisle, 2009 President, for her incredible work in coordinating and preparing gifts for 250+ children we did not have donors for. Pauline devoted nearly 12 hours a day to this effort to make sure that no eligible child was turned away this year.

Cathy Savage, 2009 Vice President, who spent 12 hours a day working in the warehouse organizing and sorting the nearly 4,500 bags and boxes of gifts.

Debbie Mitchell, 2009 Treasurer, who shopped, wrapped, tagged and bagged gifts for 45 children prior to Distribution Week. Debbie also spent many hours with us this week working in Santa’s Workshop.

Bobbie Aubin who worked in Santa's Workshop pulling together appropriate toys and clothes for the children without donors.

Bev Denis who prior to Distribution Week spent hours contacting and organizing the seven-day schedule of nearly 200 volunteers. Bev was also with us every day meeting and greeting the volunteers and filling in anywhere an extra hand was needed.

Pat Dubois who worked in Santa’s Workshop sorting and wrapping for the children without donors.

Diane Fregeau for all the hours spent weeks and months before Distribution Week seeking out many of the toys and clothes purchased in anticipation of the need to provide for children without donors.

Joan Powers who worked greeting donors, cataloging the hundreds of bags and pitching in wherever help was needed.

Rhea Powers our Kitchen Elf Extraordinaire who kept our bellies full with hot soup, sandwiches, salads, casseroles, hot cider and warm cookies and coordinated the many donations of food. There were always pots of coffee, tea and hot chocolate available. On several evenings Rhea and her ‘staff’ fed nearly 50 volunteers a hot meal. If it’s true that an army marches on its stomach, Rhea is our General.

Sue Rennie who spent hours day after day often standing in the cold meeting and verifying the 1000+ parents of the children helping us be sure that the right gifts went to the right families.

Deana Robidoux for all the hours spent weeks and months before Distribution Week seeking out the many toys and clothes purchased in anticipation of the need to provide for children without donors.

Tina Stothard for her help in shopping for the families without donors and time spent in Santa’s Warehouse.

Brenda Viscione for her hours wrapping, tagging and bagging gifts in Santa's Workshop.

Julie Wunderlich who brought us many new donors and student volunteers from Mt. St. Charles Academy. Julie also worked along side Pauline all week sorting and inventorying Santa’s Workshop.

Gail Zak for her months of savvy shopping and work this week in Santa’s Workshop sorting through our inventory to organize gifts for the children without donors.

Janice Geddes for hours spent on the telephone making hundreds of calls to families giving them the good news that their children’s gifts were ready.

For many of us, Distribution Week is an annual reunion when we catch up on good news and sometimes bad news of the year. As I watched the comings and goings of everyone I saw husbands, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and friends of so many of us who were all working hard but having a wonderful time. I also saw several past board members and hopefully some future as well.

There are so many whose names I would love to mention but won't for fear of missing someone. The one exception I will make is to thank our friend Joe "Santa" Lynch for his incredible effort to volunteer. Joe arrived under the most difficult of circumstances and brought several of his 'boys' who stood for hours each night in the frigid cold helping donors drop off and recipients pick up gifts. I wrote about Joe earlier this year and his extreme generosity of spirit and kind efforts on our behalf.

I also want to mention our friends at Woonsocket Elks Lodge #850 for their kindness and support of our program. Daily they dropped in to watch us in action and to ask if there was anything we needed. This was our third year in their building, and we still count our blessings that we found such a perfect location to call home.

I think I can speak for each and everyone who was there this week when I say I am glad to have been there to see it all come together but I am also glad it's over for another year.

Helping to Feed Rhode Island's Hungry Children

2009-12-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Adopt-A-Family, Inc., is proud to sponsor its 2nd Annual Food Drive for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The Food Bank provides food assistance to food pantries, meal sites & shelters throughout Northern Rhode Island. Over the last year the Food Bank saw a record distribution of 9.5 million pounds of food, a 15% increase over last year.

If you would like to help, please bring a canned or non-perishable food item and drop it off in one of the bins that will be available during Distribution Week, December 13-19, 2009 at Elks Lodge #850, 380 Social Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Fidelity Investments Employees Help Out Once Again

2009-12-10T05:23:00.000-08:00

Employee volunteers from Fidelity Investments’ Smithfield, Rhode Island offices collected toys and clothes to donate to Adopt-a-Family, Inc. Roughly 1,000 employees donated the items this year, which will benefit 250 children from 104 Woonsocket families.

More than 100 giant Santa sacks filled with new clothes, toys and games, as well as new bicycles, will be loaded onto a delivery truck bound for the Woonsocket program’s drop-off site on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

Always one of the largest group donors to the program, this is the eleventh year Fidelity Investments has participated in the program.

Adopt-a-Family Pulls It Off Again!

2009-12-08T04:44:00.001-08:00

For the 7th year in a row, no eligible family in need will be turned away from Woonsocket's Adopt-a-Family.

Despite serious concern just a week ago that families were going to be turned away, as of Monday, December 7, the Board of Directors agreed to provide for all eligible families who applied.

Although not every family will be sponsored by an outside donor, every child will receive a bag of gifts including clothing and toys.

On Tuesday, letters to 1,118 families with 2,310 children will be going out advising them of their acceptance into the program. Each of these children will benefit from this local charity now in its 27th year of providing for needy children in Woonsocket.

After almost daily updates to board members by Program Coordinator Sandra Soares, on Saturday an email went out telling them that the number of children without donors was down to 302 from 590 only four days earlier!

In those four days, telephone messages and emails kept coming in from people wanting to help. Matching continued daily and wish lists were going via email, regular mail and fax. That response brought the number of children still in need down to a manageable number for the Board to commit to providing for with or without donors.

Those 302 children in 176 families will be taken care of with funds from the program's treasury. The funds come from donors who often can't commit to shopping for a family but still want to support the program. And often donors will send a check in addition to adopting a few children.

"I had tears in my eyes when I read that email," said long-time Board member Rhea Powers. "We can certainly handle that many children," said President Pauline Belisle, "that's not many more than we provided for last year." In 2008, 245 children had no sponsors but in the eleventh hour during their Distribution Week, volunteers shopped, wrapped & tagged so that no one was disappointed.

"After six years of being able to say YES to everyone, it was going to be a difficult decision to have to turn some families away this year, we are thrilled that we won't have to", said Program Coordinator Soares.

Although it's too late to adopt, if you would still like to help, you can make a donation to Adopt-a-Family, Inc., P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI 02864. AAF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

2009-12-03T02:36:00.000-08:00

The Valley Breeze

December 3, 2009

Adopt-A-Family still in need of family sponsors, gift donors

WOONSOCKET - It's an annual worry.

The 27-year-old Woonsocket Adopt-A-Family program is heading into its final adoption week far short of the number of donors needed to provide Christmas for all of the city's needy families.

As of last Friday, according to the group's secretary, Sandra Soares, while 807 families with about 1,700 children will be provided for this Christmas, another 279 families, representing 600 children, had no sponsors.

While other years have seen last-minute donors carry the day for all, she's not so sure that will happen this year.

The number who've agreed to help out is down substantially, she said, with many mentioning the economy is squeezing too tightly.

Adopt-A-Family faces the prospect of not being able to provide for every child for the first time in five years, she said.

She noted that one-third of Woonsocket children under the age of 6 are living in poverty.

The date for families to register for gifts has passed, but the organization is still welcoming the names the individuals and organizations willing to help out.

This organization, which works directly with Woonsocket's Family Resources Community Action Program to compile a list of the city's needy, makes the point that its recipients have no other sources for assistance this holiday.

President of the board of Adopt-A-Family this year is Pauline Belisle. Catherine Savage is vice president and Debra Mitchell is treasurer.

Those who agree to provide presents, says Soares, are providing everything that will appear under that family's tree.

Donors are asked to buy three to four clothing items and two to three toys for each child, about a $125 to $150 per child.

Generally, about $350,000 in goods is donated each year to the needy families along with another $20,00 in cash donations that are used to fill in shopping lists as needed.
Soares notes the number of recipients registering this year is about the same as last year, but the list includes more who describe themselves as "working poor."

There are also more grandparents who've taken over the rearing of grandchildren and more women who've mentioned domestic abuse restraining orders against children's fathers.

Donor are needed immediately; gifts are distributed during the week of Dec. 14.

To help out, call 766-2291 or e-mail adoptafamily@cox.net.

To read the article online go here.

The Garlic Connection Raises Money for Adopt-a-Family, Inc.

2009-12-02T02:28:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, December 1, a check for $500 was donated to Adopt-a-Family by The Garlic Connection, a group of Elks from Woonsocket Lodge #850. The money was raised at a recent Porketta held at the Lodge to benefit Adopt-a-Family.

The people in the photo are from left to right:

Ronald Heroux of The Garlic Connection; Pauline Belisle, President of Adopt-a-Family; Richard Gagne, Exalted Ruler of Woonsocket Elks Lodge #850; Catherine Savage, Vice President of Adopt-a-Family.

The Call

2009-11-29T08:29:00.001-08:00

Please go here to read Sandy McGee's article about Adopt-a-Family in today's edition of The Call.

The Good News and The Bad News

2009-11-27T07:11:00.000-08:00

As we head into the final days of matching donors with needy families at Adopt-a-Family, the news is not all bad. As of November 25, we have 807 families with approximately 1700 children who will be provided for by generous people in the community.

By community we mean people everywhere: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, plus cash donors from as far away as California and Illinois. A testimony to what we have always said, this program brings out the best in everyone!

But, there's always a but, we still have 279 families with another 600 children that we don't have donors for as of this writing. The date for families to apply for help has past, so we know how many we have left. Surprisingly, the number of families who applied in 2009 remains about the same as in past years.

The one major change that we are seeing is that the percentage of families that we call 'working poor' has increased. These are families where one or both of the parents are working, they are able to keep a roof over their kids' heads, feed them and provide for basic needs but because they usually go check to check, when Christmas comes, there is nothing left. At Adopt-a-Family we always strive to reach out to these families.

The donors, however, have dropped off dramatically. We have heard from many who usually participate who said they couldn't this year because of their own financial difficulties. So our job now is to find new donors.

We are doing a tremendous amount of networking with emails, newspaper articles and word of mouth so we expect to be able to provide for some of these 600 children but can we provide for them all? Right now it doesn't look likely.

If you, your family, your church or your office would like to help this year, please call us at 401-766-2291 or email us at adoptafamily@cox.net. We promise it will be an experience you will never forget.

From the desk of Sandy Soares

2009-11-16T04:53:00.000-08:00

We are fast approaching crunch time at Adopt-A-Family. This is the last week that the families can apply, and when we will put a big push on to attract people to get involved and help.

For the last six years we have been able to provide for every child in every family who qualified. That means an average of 2100 children got Christmas presents because of people in the community who wanted to do something for someone less fortunate.

Are we going to make it a seventh year? My gut is telling me no. When I made that announcement at a Board meeting last week, one of the Board members piped up with, "Sandy, you say that every year, and we always do it." As the saying goes, Brenda, from your mouth to God's ear. Please let me be wrong.

Over the twenty years that I've been part of this wonderful organization, first as donor, then volunteer, then Board member and now Program Coordinator, I have been asked WHY I do what I do. My answer is usually Because I can. Memories of my own happy Christmases as a child and now as a parent and grandparent motivate me to try to bring a bit of that to children in families who are struggling. And honestly I do it for me, too, because it feels good.

I have always said that AAF serves two distinct parts of the community. The first is obvious, the kids who probably wouldn't have much of a Christmas if it weren't for our program.

The second, probably less obvious to most, is the donors and volunteers who help us make this happen. During the week this all comes together our little board of sixteen members swells to include 150+ volunteers. That doesn't count the donors who provide for these 1000 families although most of our volunteers are also donors.

So when I say we serve the donors and volunteers I mean we give them a place and an opportunity to get involved. So many people want to do more than write a check. They want hands-on participation. And our volunteers love working with us every year. It's hard work but it's also fun and fulfilling.

But the reality is, we have 150 families without donors and I'm expecting at least that many more before the deadline to apply. So that's probably close to 700 kids. And the donors have dropped off dramatically, much earlier this year than usual. A sign of the poor economy, I'm sure.

Below is a photo of the applications from families yet to be matched with donors.

Before too long we will have to look at the applications from families without donors and decide who's in and who's out. Who will get a letter that says "we are very sorry but we can't help you this year." It's the part of the process I dislike most. It's when I feel like we are playing God.

I hope Brenda's right, and that we won't have to turn anyone away.

My Life by Rhea Bouchard Powers

2009-11-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Here is the transcript of Rhea Bouchard Powers' column as it appears today in The Valley Breeze. If you would like to read it on their website, go here.

Adopt-A-Family (2009)
By
Rhea Bouchard Powers

Note: This column marks an anniversary for me. It was 20 years ago this month that I wrote my first Adopt-a-Family column. Twenty-years and here I am, as passionate about it now as I was then. The only difference is that in the intervening years I have also become a full-time volunteer and a member of the Board of Directors.

Trying to come up with a different way to say the same thing year after year becomes a challenge. Therefore, this time around I am going to run the same column that first saw the light of day in November of 1990.

Christmas can be a tough time of the year under the best of circumstances and for a lot of different reasons. But the toughest thought for me to face at this time of the year is that there will be children who won’t receive anything for Christmas. I’m particularly sensitive on that subject because that’s what my father’s Christmases were like as a child.

He was six years old when his mother and baby brother were killed in an automobile accident shortly after the family moved from Canada to the States. His father, grief-stricken and in poor health, managed to keep the three surviving children together, but they lived in boarding houses and for many years their lives were pretty cheerless.

My heart just breaks when my father tells how he used to attend 6:00 o’clock Mass on Christmas morning to avoid meeting other kids. “They used to laugh at me because I didn’t get anything for Christmas,” he explained, and my eyes fill with tears at the thought. That’s a terrible memory to have to carry with you through life, and there is nothing anyone can do to erase it.

That’s probably why Tom Ward’s column about the Adopt-a-Family program caught my attention last year around this time. It explained how people could volunteer to sponsor a needy family for Christmas, agreeing to furnish gifts of clothing and toys.

Unlike most charities that involve nameless, faceless donations, Adopt-a-Family furnishes you with a personalized list. You’re given the children’s first names, ages, and what the parent thinks each child needs and wants.

My sisters and I decided to pool our resources and adopt a family together. We selected a single-parent family with three children. When our list arrived in the mail we mapped out our strategy, and on a Friday evening all four of us set out to do some shopping.

Our first stop was the shoe store. Picking out winter boots for this one and running shoes for that one didn’t take much time, then it was onward and upward to the second place on our list, a children’s clothing store.

That required a little more strategy and a lot more time, trying to coordinate age-appropriate outfits that were stylish. We tossed in some trendy socks and a few other inexpensive fad items as well. Kids have such a need to be like everyone else, and if we were kids we would have loved this stuff. It was at the toy store, though, that we lost control and had the most fun.

At this point, for all intents and purposes, these three children had become “ours.”

On Christmas morning, as I sat in my living room surrounded by my own family, my thoughts were also with my adopted family. I wondered how they had liked their gifts, and wished I could have been there to see their faces as they opened their presents. My sisters all told me they felt the same way.

Needless to say, we have decided to adopt a family again this year as a family holiday project. We are adopting a second one as well, in conjunction with a group of friends.

No, I really don’t have an awful lot of money, but Adopt-a-Family is a Christmas gift I give myself. I do it primarily because it makes me feel good and because it makes my Christmas richer. But on a deeper, more fundamental level, I am doing it for the long ago little boy whose bleak Christmas memories I am powerless to change, and for the children in the here and now whose memories of Christmas have yet to be formed.

If you are interested in adopting one or more children (at an average cost of $150 per child), or making a donation that will be used to provide gifts for children who have not been sponsored by outside donors, call us at 401-766-2291 and leave a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible. If you would like to join us as a volunteer, call 401-769-3429 and speak to Beverly Denis, our volunteer coordinator (and my sister). You can also visit us online at AdoptAFamily@cox.net.

In these financially troubled times we really need your help. Please join us. You will be glad you did.

PROGRAM UPDATE

2009-11-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

As of today we have 548 families matched with donors. That's probably about 1150 children who we know will be getting gifts this year. As great as that sounds, I expect at least that many more to apply before the application period ends on November 20. And our response from donors has definitely slowed.

It looks likely that this is going to be the first time in seven years that we may not be able to provide for all the eligible families who apply. A second mailing to last year's donors who have not responded yet will be going out in the next week. We'll keep our fingers crossed that many of those people will be sending back their Donor Reply Card soon!

FBLA State Leadership Conference

2009-10-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 23, we had an opportunity to be one of three non-profit organizations featured at the FBLA State Leadership Conference which was attended by chapters from all over Rhode Island.

Over 150 high school students attended the event held at Johnson & Wales Inn in Seekonk. Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) education association of students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The FBLA-PBL Mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.

Among the students in attendance was Woonsocket High School's own FBLA Chapter and their advisor Eileen Passano. Woonsocket's FBLA students annually adopt several children from our program.

Adopt-a-Family Program Coordinator Sandra Soares and volunteer Pam Grove met with groups of students over the course of the morning conference to introduce them to our program. Always looking for new ways to increase their community service, the students were interested in learning how they can become involved as donors, volunteers and fundraisers.

The students seemed eager to learn about AAF. This was an opportunity to introduce the program to a new generation of citizens to help us continue fulfilling our mission.

Recap of Adopt-A-Family's 2008 Program Success

2009-10-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

During the week of December 7-13, 2008, with the generosity of our donors and the hardwork of our volunteers, we were able to provide a happy Christmas to 2,163 children in 1,017 families. This was our sixth year of providing Christmas for 100% of qualifying applicants. In a year of constant economic issues, our success was very gratifying. Trying to visualize 2100 children is difficult. Imagine 100 classrooms of children!

In addition to the thousands of bags of gifts and hundreds of bicycles received, our food drive to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank was very successful. We were able to send two pallets of paper products, soap and cleaning supplies and a truckload of non-perishable food items to their warehouse in Providence. This was our first attempt at a food drive and we hope to make it an annual event.

From a board of directors of less than 20, overnight during Distribution Week our ranks swell to nearly 150 volunteers. We operate daily during that week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. When we explain what takes place in one week to those unfamiliar with the program they are truly amazed, and the most amazing part is what our donors and volunteers accomplish. Their tasks are many, from shopping and wrapping to carrying, cataloging, sorting and moving gifts for the children, as well as providing delicious food and treats to maintain our energy levels. Our goal of providing a happy Christmas to the children of Woonsocket that are in need is accomplished by their tireless efforts.

We also have the Elks Lodge #850 Elks Lodge to thank for their continued support and commitment. Even though this was only our second year at the Elks, the members have truly made us feel “at home.” We look forward to a long association with Elks #850.

So as we gear up for what promises to be another difficult year of finding donors to provide for the many needy families of Woonsocket, we hope that everyone will find it in their hearts to get involved on some level.

2009-10-07T04:58:00.000-07:00

Please Don’t Forget Local Children
Adopt-A-Family Worries They Won’t Have Enough Help This Year

Woonsocket—October 7, 2009 The leaves have just begun to change and the calendar says its only autumn but the people who run Woonsocket’s Adopt-A-Family program are already thinking and planning for Christmas.

For more than 25 years this popular charity has been reaching out to the community for help to provide gifts of clothes and toys at Christmas time for needy Woonsocket children whose families are not able to. Program Coordinator Sandra Soares, who also chairs the committee that processes the applications received each year, said they began meeting this week and will continue until the end of November.

“During the first week of intake, Family Resources in Woonsocket saw an increase of 30 applications over the same week last year,” said Soares, “if that continues, we can expect an additional 30% of requests for help.” And, said Soares, last year’s donors have already been contacted and they are responding but “we are seeing our always-faithful donors offering to help fewer children. Instead of asking for 3-4 children, they are only able to help one or maybe two. The combination of more families in need and fewer donors able to help is going to mean we won’t be able to provide for all the eligible families.”

Eligibility for the program is based on need and the family’s income. “We always especially want the “working poor” to know they can apply. These are the people who are able to feed and house their children but when the holidays arrive, there just isn't anything left over from their pay checks to buy Christmas gifts," said Soares.

The deadline to adopt a family this year is December 4th. Donors are asked to give each child they adopt three to four new clothing items and two or three new 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.

The Adopt-A-Family organization is a 27 year-old charity based in Woonsocket, RI. For more information contact Adopt-A-Family at 401-766-2291, write to Adopt-A-Family, P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI 02864, or via at AdoptAFamily@cox.net.

2009-03-13T04:55:00.000-07:00

ADOPT-A-FAMILY, INC. ELECTS 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WOONSOCKET March 13, 2009—At its Annual Meeting held on March 3, 2009, Adopt-A-Family, Inc., held an election of Executive Officers and Board of Directors.

The following were elected for one-year terms: Pauline Belisle, President; Catherine Savage, Vice President; Sandra Soares, Secretary; Debra Mitchell, Treasurer.

The following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors: Roberta Aubin, Al Belisle, Pauline Belisle, Beverly Denis, Patricia Dubois, Diane Fregeau, Joan Powers, Rhea Bouchard Powers, Brenda Viscione, Deana Robidoux, Sue Rennie, Catherine Savage, Sandra Soares, Tina Stothard, Gail Zak, Debra Mitchell, Julie Wunderlich.

The Adopt-A-Family organization is a 27 year-old charity based in Woonsocket, RI which finds donors to provide Christmas gifts of toys and clothing for children in needy Woonsocket families. In 2008 the Program provided for 2,163 children. For more information contact Adopt-A-Family at 401-766-2291, or write to Adopt-A-Family, P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI 02864