SOUTH DEERFIELD – Adopt-A-Family of Franklin County, a locally based non-profit organization that connects people in need at Christmas with people who want to give, is in need of help itself
The final deadline to sponsor a family or otherwise donate to needy families in Franklin County is Dec. 15, when volunteers host a collection at Holy Family Catholic Church on Sugarloaf Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before then, donations can be sent to the organization’s director, Libby Kolasinski, at 140 Russell St. in Sunderland.
“By this time, they’re usually all gone,” said Kolasinski, noting that the organization is entirely volunteer, and all participating families live in Franklin County. Of the 212 families sponsored, 185 wish lists have been filled, leaving 30 families still in need of sponsorship.
By working with a few different locally based social service organizations, Adopt-A-Family of Franklin County annually matches those who want to give with a certain amount of people in need that “complete wish lists for their families’ wants and needs for Christmas.”
One wish list asked for underwear, socks and Lego’s, another for sheets and toilet paper.
“Cleaning supplies, that’s a huge thing. Pots and pans, dish soap – these are absolute necessities that they just don’t have,” Kolasinski continued. “Sponsors are wonderful, giving people. A ‘thank you’ at the end of the year is just not enough.”
Sponsors of needy families buy “one gift just for fun” and another “necessity that they have asked for. We also ask sponsors to provide food for their three meals on Christmas day, packing the non-perishables along with the gifts and providing a gift card for perishables.”
“It’s always greater, or at least it seems to be that way,” Kolasinski said about the need. This year, the organization took on 12 additional families, matched through two new agencies, which is part of the reason why it’s been difficult to sponsor all the wish lists.
“If you can’t sponsor a family alone, get together with someone else,” she said. “People are really in need of food – if anyone wants to just give food, that’s good too,” adding that people can also give cash donations, which goes entirely to families sponsored by Adopt-A-Family of Franklin County.
For those that wish to sponsor a family or get involved, Kolasinski said to email or call her at: libbykol@comcast.net, or 413-665-7031.
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo