Say “Yes!” to Holiday Joy – It’s not too early to sign up now to adopt a family for 2008 Holidays!
The Social Security Income check comes once a month. $603. She manages to pay the rent, the heating and light bills, and buy a little food. But what gnaws at her every day is the sight of her two little boys sleeping on mattresses on the floor. She needed two bed frames for twin beds – that was her Christmas wish. She couldn’t rely on her family – they had abandoned her a long time ago. In a panic and with a little bit of hope, she turned to the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (AADD).
AADD seeks open-hearted individuals, businesses, companies, and faith communities to adopt a family by bringing them a holiday meal and gifts matching their needs. Some volunteers or organizations send a check or gift certificates to bring holiday cheer to families AADD supports throughout the year.
Other volunteers band together with friends, cook the meal, buy and wrap the gifts, and deliver it all to the family’s door. Each year about 40 families living with developmental disabilities are adopted as part of AADD’s Adopt-A-Family program, now in its 22nd year.
“We deeply appreciate our adopters, whether they take the presents over themselves, or give us a check to help with the shopping” said Azalene James, director of AADD’s Georgia Family Support program.
“Generous adopters bring great joy to the families we support. We hope folks will step forward now to make things brighter for these families. Life is hard on them all year. And when cold weather and the holidays come, their needs are even greater,” Azalene added.
For the last four years, SAGE, an upscale clothing store, has asked their clients to contribute toys that then could be distributed to AADD families.
“SAGE presents AADD with bags and bags of toys that are lovingly distributed among AADD families,” says Carey Sipp, AADD marketing director.
Azalene James, who coordinates the Adopt-A-Family program, is delighted to speak with anyone interested in adopting a family for the holidays. Call 404-881-9777, ext. 214 or write her at azalene@aadd.org.
