Watch the Video HERE - In the first year of Adopt a Family, only a section of the former Hometown Buffet location was used for the sit down dinner & gift exchange that has become the largest annual event for the North Sacramento News team. Many of those same individuals and businesses have participated year after year. But as the generosity of sponsors grew, so did the number of families who could be served. In the first year of Adopt a Family, 13 families were helped by business people and individuals. The second year - that number doubled. This year - it doubled again. A total of 50 families were provided toys, clothes and for the first time a holiday gift basket for Christmas dinner complete with Turkey and all the fixings.
In a time when statistics and the stock market offer less and less of a prospect that the economy will turn around - there is a headline of hope in the Sacramento region - people are still helping people. Yes, the need is greater. As evidenced by this and other charitable groups, the need is changing too. More people from the formerly middle class are finding themselves on the unemployment or food line for the very first time.
It's an immediate answer to an overwhelming problem during the holiday months -- feed people, take the burden of seeing their children without Christmas gifts and you ease that pressure. However, it's not just a goal to simply hand out gifts and meals, The North Sacramento News, along with Sacramento Helping Hands and many business and community sponsors,believe the purpose of serving in this way is to help families see that someone has taken notice of their situation and that their life and the lives of their children mean something. A relationship is forged between the individuals giving and the person recieving. The intention is that next year, perhaps this very family, who has in the past gone without, will be in a position to give to others who were in their shoes.
Take Melissa, she was one of the first families to get help with Christmas gifts through Adopt A Family in 2009. This same time three years ago, this single mother didn't have a job. Today she maintains fulltime employment, makes enough to afford to buy her own gifts this year along with the everyday expenses like childcare and transportation and has moved into a nicer apartment. She told someone she worked with about the program and now, another single mom is being helped too.
From single parent homes, to moms and dads, the looks on the faces of these children is gratitude. And for those who gave, their faces all shone with an excitement and a fulfillment that came by getting to know someone in need.
Could it be 100 families next year? We'll need to find a bigger location and more people like you. If you would like to be a sponsor or donate to 2012 Adopt a Family you don't have to wait until next Christmas. Look online for more information. Log on to www.NorthSacNews.com for a video from this year and last year's events.
Generosity begets generosity. Here is a list of all of the people who made it possible for these 50 families!