CADA kicks off Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program
Christmas time is just around the corner and Communities Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) is kicking off its annual Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. CADA is a non-profit agency that provides services for women and children affected by domestic violence in Jeff Davis Parish.
The program is designed to help families that have received assistance from CADA in the past year. Community members or groups can sponsor a family to provide gifts or even Christmas meals.
The program allows for the community to get involved in a worthy cause. The organization provided gifts for over 20 families last year.
“The community really supports us this time of year,” said CADA Children’s Advocate and Outreach Coordinator Cynthia Petry. “It’s a great feeling when we answer the door or the phone to families wanting to help those who are in need.”
CADA will be signing up sponsors and families to be adopted starting Thursday, Nov. 1 until Friday, Nov. 16. No late signups will be accepted. All sponsors and families will remain anonymous.
Families who would like to be sponsored can contact the shelter for application information. Those who have stayed in the shelter have top priority but others can be served. Once the applications are processed, children need to make a list of what items they would like to receive. The Christmas wish lists needs to be turned into CADA as soon as possible so that sponsors will have time to get shopping done.
“Sometimes the family asking for assistance will request that only their children receive the gifts, b often the mother will also receive gift from the donating family as surprise,” said Petry. “The expre sions on their faces when th realize they got almost everythin on their list makes us thankful.”
Anyone in the community ca sign up to become a sponsor.
“We have families that on assisted by CADA give back on they get on their feet,” said Petry. “It’s a great lesson for children of donating families to show them how great the feeling is knowing they will make other children happy for Christmas.”
Sponsors who would like to adopt a family need to inform a member of CADA. Sponsors will be given a Wish List and will need to have gifts to the CADA office no later than Monday, Dec.17. Gifts will then be distributed to the families to be put under their trees in time for Christmas.
“We look forward to this time of year. For me personally it brings back fond memories of my own children enjoying Christmas. Since they are now grown, we forget their precious faces on Christmas Day,” said Petry.
Those who would like to be adopted or sponsor a family should call the CADA office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday a (337) 616-8418.