It’s another successful year for the Adopt-A-Family Christmas assistance program.
All 200 families on the list have been adopted, and then some.
“We are definitely excited to hear of all the families being taken care of as far as getting everyone adopted,” said Lt. Jamaal Ellis of The Salvation Army.
Adopt-A-Family started in 1980 and is sponsored through a partnership between The Salvation Army and the Commonwealth.
Donors each paid a $75 fee, which will help provide gifts and other items to families and the elderly in need this holiday season. The Christmastime campaign began on Nov. 21.
After the last of the families on the original list of 200 were adopted on Friday, The Salvation Army added 17 more, which were emergency cases. Over the weekend, those families were adopted and an additional 15 donations were made, which brings this year’s total to 232 donations. An updated Adopt-A-Family list can be found on Page 10.
“This gives us time to make sure everything is prepared for distribution day,” said Ellis. “We are definitely grateful.”
This week, Ellis and his wife, Lt. Tami Ellis, are preparing for distribution day on Friday.
“We have a faithful group of volunteers, including board members and individuals, lined up and excited to come out and ready to serve the families,” said Tami Ellis.
However, the organization still needs donors for its other Christmas assistance program, Angel Tree.
There are 100 additional angels — needy children under 12 and the elderly — who have not been added yet to the trees at CB&S Bank and Greenwood Market Place since not all of the angels already there have been selected by donors.
“The Angel Tree part is where our concern lies,” said Ellis.
Those interested in purchasing gifts for an angel have until Thursday. A minimum of $50 worth of gifts is recommended.
For more information, call The Salvation Army at 455-9679.
•Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
