dec2015

CHARITY
By David Volz
Community
organizations
offer toys to
needy children
Making Sure
Christmas
Is Merry
Many parents struggle during the holiday season. Mothers
and fathers who are working two or more low paid
jobs may be unable to provide gifts for their children.
So faith groups and civic organizations provide opportunities
for people to provide gifts to children from needy families.
First Church Coral Springs has an Adopt-A-Family
program that works to ensure that lower income families can
provide a nice Christmas for their children.
Shortly before Christmas, Mallory Franco, a volunteer who is
running the program at First Church, contacts social workers
in the Broward County schools who identify needy students. “I
receive lists of families who can’t afford Christmas gifts for their
children,” says Franco. “We are helping more kids. If we get
the name of one child in a school, we might be able to help
his or her siblings.” The church expects to serve about 150
children this year.
People can sponsor a child or children by making a financial
donation, or they can shop themselves. Franco recommends
that a sponsor plan to spend about $75 to $100 on a child.
“You can buy an outfit or some toys. We will tell the sponsor
what a child wants. I speak with the parents on the phone
and get to know them and the needs of their children,” explains
Franco.
The deadline to participate in the program is December 22.
People can drop off gifts or donations for Adopt-A-Family
at the church office at 8650 West Sample Road. The phone
number is (954) 752-0333.
“We want to make sure that the children feel loved. We want
to make sure they know someone cares about them. Too
many kids don’t get presents during Christmas. I have seen
some parents and children cry because they are so excited
that they have gifts under a Christmas tree,” says Franco.
St. Andrew Catholic Church of Coral Springs also
has a toy drive for lower income children. The collection
period goes until December 19 when the church has its
pickup day. During early December, families can register
their children to receive age appropriate gifts. “We provide
a food basket and we provide a gift certificate for food. We
don’t want any child to not have toys on Christmas morning,”
said Dolly Conlin, a volunteer who runs the toy drive.
Those who want to make a contribution to the toy drive can
contact the church at (954) 752-3950.
The Salvation Army has an Angel Tree program. From
December 1 through December 14, there will be a Christmas
tree at the Coral Square Mall with paper angels on it bearing
gift requests from needy children. People pick an angel and
then buy the gift requested on the paper. The gift is brought
to a Salvation Army pickup point in the Coral Square Mall. The
Salvation Army runs a similar program for companies, schools,
and faith groups, known as Corporate Angels. People select
a paper angel at their place of work, school, or faith group
26
DECEMBER 2015