ADOPT-A-FAMILY

A few weeks ago a close family friend, Lee, told me about a good deed she was doing that involved helping families in the recent economic crisis who couldn’t afford to have a proper Christmas.  She created this idea, and decided to call it “Adopt A Family”.  She found out about specific families in the community who were struggling to make ends meet and couldn’t afford gifts, etc. for the holiday.  The family that she told me about had a mother, a father, a 10 year old boy, a 6 year old girl, and a 6 month old baby.  The idea was to get them clothes, toys, useful things (new or used) so they could feel the holiday spirit.  Somehow, this particular family got “lost in the shuffle”, and never had anyone “adopt” them.  As it is now February, this family had been “holding out” for their Christmas for quite some time.

So Lee and I collected some items for this family for the last couple weeks.  Some items were brand new (like new baby clothes and toys for the 6 month old) And some items were used (Lee went to her dry cleaners, and told them what she was doing, and they donated several items to her, telling her that these items were things people never picked up!)  All in all we had about 3 huge boxes and 3 huge bags full of items.

Tonight we drove all the stuff over to the Fuentes family.  They were a little shy with us at first, not quite sure how to take it all in.  Then the kids saw all the toys and their eyes lit up.  The Mom, Joanne, kept telling us how thankful she was from the bottom of her heart.  She told us her story of how she is struggling to make ends meet.  Her husband is out of a job, and she is the sole provider at the moment.  She makes $320 a week and is completely behind on rent and bills.  She takes the kids to daycare at 5 am every morning so she can get to work on time and so her husband can go out to solicit work.  They work to live and live to work.  (When they are fortunate enough to have work.)  Needless to say, they didn’t have the chance or the money to have a merry Christmas.

I know this family is one of hundreds of thousands who is going through similar economic strife at the moment.  But the way those kids lit up when they saw the games and clothes that we had for them, was a moment I will never forget.  As I have said in previous blogs if you are lucky enough not to be affected by the current economic condition that our nation is facing, take a moment and see what you can do to help those less fortunate.  Even if it’s something small.  Clean out your closet and give it to someone who needs it.  I know we’re not all millionaires.  Hell, I’m not.  (Far from it!)  But seeing this family tonight, seeing the way that they live, and the struggles they face, mad me feel quite lucky for what I do have.

Eddis (6 years old), Miguel (10 years old) & Me playing their new game of Checkers!

Sophia (6 months old) playing with her new toy!

Eddis, Miguel, Sophia and Me... Merry Christmas!