ADOPT A FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

by Hillsides

The holidays can be a depressing time for families in need, who have financial hardships. We work with the community to adopt the families and provide a brighter holiday and bring cheer during the season. Here's one of our families who was adopted.

Rosa has six children -- Violeta, 16, Miguel, 14, Armando, 13, Sofia, 10, Gabby, 8 and Ellie, 7.   Rosa was able to break free from an abusive relationship, which has caused the family to lose income and struggle to find an affordable place to live.  Rosa and the children live in a one bedroom apartment, all seven either sharing one full-sized mattress or sleeping on the floor.  Due to the financial instability and the past trauma, the children started showing signs of anxiety and depression, and Rosa sought help at Hillsides.  Here, she was able to receive the services her family needed to begin to heal.

Last holiday season, as the Hillsides therapist met with Rosa and her children, it became clear they would greatly benefit from the Hillsides Holiday Adopt a Family program, which helps by providing families with basic needs, food gift cards and Holiday gifts. At first the family was very shy about asking for items they needed. It took multiple prompts, and finally the family requested items such as clothes, shoes, rain gear, and school supplies. When the items were delivered Rosa and the children were overwhelmed by the generosity. They received new clothes, in their specific sizes, which replaced torn and outgrown clothes they had been wearing. They received new shoes, new pots/pans, towels, bedding, a soccer ball, games, and grocery gift cards—needed basics, with a few fun items, to get them through their daily life and let them enjoy life. Through the kind and thoughtful donors, Rosa and her children are recovering from trauma and feeling hopeful about the future.    

With support from individuals, families, and companies, we hope to give 55  families gifts for each member of the family, groceries to help feed the children during the winter break from school, and bring smiles for a holiday to remember. The cost to provide for one member of the family is $100. The cost for a family of four is $400.

Please consider sharing the gift of the holiday spirit to families in need. We thank you for thinking of the families in crisis who we serve.