November 26, 2010
Families waiting ‘to be adopted’ for Christmas
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
As Advent and the season of preparation begin, dozens of families in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties are still waiting for someone to help brighten their Christmas.
As of Nov. 19, Catholic Charities had 65 families who had not yet been “adopted” for the Christmas giving program. A total of 175 families had signed up for the program.
When a contributing family or a parish calls Catholic Charities and agrees to adopt a family, the contributor is asked to select the size of family, from two to seven members. Then, a letter will be sent to the contributor listing the first names of the family members, their ages and sizes, and also listing a few gift ideas.
The adopting family they purchases items on the list. All of the gifts, wrapped by the adopting families are brought to the Catholic Center on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 13 and 14, and then distributed to the adopted families.
Other ways to help include buying gift cards to supplement family needs with last minute emergencies and volunteering on the days of collecting and distribution at the Catholic Center.
Contact Terri Lautner-Uebelhor at Catholic Charities, 812-423-5456, or e-mail tluebelhor@evdio.org.