Bring holiday cheer to families in need through Oakland Family Services' Adopt A Family program
Volunteers unload donated gifts for families served by Oakland Family Services as part of the last year’s Adopt A Family program.
Anita could really use some help this holiday season. The grandmother has been on medical leave for breast cancer surgery and caring for her grandson, who was placed in her custody after he suffered from shaken baby syndrome. While Anita’s surgery was successful, she will undergo another surgery for reconstruction within the next few months.
Anita also is expecting that she will be caring for another baby soon. Her grandson’s mother is pregnant, and it is anticipated the baby will be removed from the mother’s care and placed with Anita. She has a crib for the baby but no longer has an infant car seat, which she gave to a young mother who needed one.
Anita is just one of the many people Oakland Family Services serves who could use your assistance. You can help families, who otherwise would not have gifts and necessities, by signing up for the agency’s Adopt A Family program. Last year, Adopt A Family made the holidays magical for 260 families and 650 children.
Families who come to the agency often are experiencing a variety of challenges, of which lack of income is just one. Other examples of people in need of your help include:
A mother who is raising nine children by herself with multiple children receiving services through Oakland Family Services. The children’s father has been in and out of jail.
A single mother of two children with developmental delays, who is homeless and living with friends. The last place where they lived had mold, which caused illnesses for the mother and her children. The children’s father is incarcerated and not a part of their lives.
Oakland Family Services is seeking both individuals and businesses to help make sure these families have what they need this holiday season. When you sign up to help, you will receive a wish list for every child in the family. You also may be asked to provide some basic household items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies. The agency requests that new items be purchased. Please wrap and label packages before dropping them off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 or Tuesday, Dec. 10, or 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Oakland Family Services’ Pontiac office.
"So many families in our community are stressed because they cannot afford to provide a holiday for their children," said Oakland Family Services Director of Development Kristin Benton. "By committing to help, you are offering families who are dealing with difficult issues not just gifts, but also the knowledge they are not alone."
You can sign up online or for more information, contact Benton at (248) 858-7766 ext. 1203 or email kbenton@ofsfamily.org.