Well I would say the holidays are coming but they are here in full force. As much as I plan, it still seems to pounce out of nowhere and here it is. A part of the holidays that part of me actually enjoys. Some things planned, combined with some things spontaneous, family and friends is an excellent recipe for a holiday season with memories that will last a lifetime.
Well I would say the holidays are coming but they are here in full force. As much as I plan, it still seems to pounce out of nowhere and here it is. A part of the holidays that part of me actually enjoys. Some things planned, combined with some things spontaneous, family and friends is an excellent recipe for a holiday season with memories that will last a lifetime.
But there are many around us that are missing many of these elements in getting through the holidays, and their lifetime memories will be much different than what I have waiting for me at home.
I received a letter from The Salvation Army El Cajon Community Center about its Adopt-A-Family Program. It has hundreds of families in need to help this holiday season. East County’s Salvation Army adopts families for many reasons. It could be the loss of income, illness, injury or domestic violence. A majority of these conditions could be any of us at any time in life, and many of us have been there already.
This program is phenomenal in its vision. Providing an entire family with three gifts for each child, a gift for the parent(s) and the means to have a Christmas dinner, makes it personal. It is a gracious gift to give without recognition. But it seems to me it would be a lot of fun to know your shopping for a single mother in her 20s, going to school, with a toddler girl and a grade-schooler. The scenarios are as many as the people are.
With hundreds of families, there is a hard story to tell for each one of them. Unbiased and non-discriminatory, hard times can knock you down, but hopefully there is someone there to help get you back up. And this is one excellent way to lend that helping hand.
Not everyone can afford another Christmas, but for those who can, this has to be fulfilling in the best of ways. This is open to any person, business or group that is willing to adopt a family this Christmas. Might not be able to adopt an entire a family as an individual, but as a group, it opens it up to so many more people to participate. It is a great way to spend some time doing something that helps build community. For many families with kids in school, the upcoming school breaks are a good time to do something together as a family. Co-workers can pull together as well as a group of friends. It is something to consider during the time of year when we reflect on what we have, and not what we do not.
Go to www.salvationarmyelcajon.com, look under Christmas for the Adopt-A-Family program to find out more, application and sponsor information and instructions or call (619) 440-4683. All of the information is there. After receiving the application, the Salvation Army will match you with a family. Screening process ends mid December and family matches made.
