VOA Asks GLITR Readers To 'Adopt A Family'

Volunteers of America is looking for a few good GLITR readers to Adopt A Family this holiday season.

This terrific program brings a merry Christmas into the homes of the less fortunate.

Sponsors who would like to adopt a family are matched with an approved family (approval is based on income limits for the number of people in the household). Once matched, the sponsor is given the family's name and contact information as well as the wish lists (clothing sizes, favorite colors, etc.) for each child as well as the parents. 

Once the sponsorship is set up, sponsors can contact the family, to let them know that they've been adopted.  Sponsors are asked to provide at least one new toy and one new outfit for each child in the family as well as the means for a holiday meal (a Meijer Gift card for $50 for a family of 4 is suggested) -- but sponsors are welcome to do more for the family if they desire. 

Sponsors are responsible for getting the gifts to the family. We ask that the sponsor make the effort to deliver the gifts to the home of the family they have adopted.

Alternatively, sponsors can also make a monetary contribution to Adopt A Family. Volunteers of America purchases toys, clothes, games, books, food, etc. in bulk and as possible, families who are not directly sponsored are invited to come to our offices and "shop" for their children. A contribution of $150 will support one family of four, but contributions of any size are appreciated.

Both the monetary donations and the direct sponsorships are wonderful ways to directly impact a family during the holidays and to share the generosity of spirit that so many have during that season.

Cash donations will be combined with others to adopt families and sponsorships are designed to meet every budget -- $20 provides toys for a minor child, $30 provides warm clothing for a child, $50 provides Christmas dinner for a family, $85 provides a great Christmas for a senior, and $150 provides an entire holiday for a family of four, food, toys and clothing.

People or groups (many sponsors are companies or employee groups) who want to sponsor one or more families can begin by signing up on line at https://aaf.voami.org/CreateSponsorAccount.aspx or they can make a cash donation online at https://secure3.convio.net/voa/site/Donation2?df_id=2640&2640.donation=form1.

Or, just call (248) 353-4862 and the fine folks at Volunteers of America will help them get set up and ready to sponsor a family right away.

The organization's general Web site for more information is www.voami.org.

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