Hundreds on 'Adopt A Family' waiting list this year

Tough economic times will force many families to have a much different holiday this year. Hundreds of Linn County families are on a waiting list right now, hoping someone will adopt them for Christmas.

Every year, the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program sponsors an “Adopt A Family” program. Individuals or companies agree to purchase food, clothing and toys for less fortunate families.

So far, the group has matched 300 families with sponsors, but 400 other families still need help. Last year, only 400 families asked to be adopted.

“This year, people are struggling because there's been either a layoff or a business closing or hours have been cut,” agency External Relations Coordinator Jennifer Schulte said.

Rockwell Collins co-workers Deanna McLaud and Brenda Blevins adopted a family of four from Marion with a little assistance from their colleagues. On Sunday, they went shopping together at Target.

“My family's already blessed in many ways and we don't really need or want for anything. So it's nice to help out a family that isn't as blessed as we've been,” McLaud said.

Blevins said, “I don't have a lot of family and I never had any children. This is a good way for me to go out and buy toys and gifts for kids.”

As they scoured the store for items on the family's wish list, the women truly got into the holiday spirit.

“You start thinking of them as somebody you would normally get a Christmas gift for. Even though there's a particular item on their list that they might want, you start to see other things and think, ‘I bet they'd like that, too,'” Blevins said.

HACAP officials hope others will follow the women's example and adopt the remaining 400 families on the waiting list this week.

“I know the spirit and generosity of the community always comes through at the last minute,” Schulte said.

By the end of their shopping spree, the two co-workers couldn't wait to deliver the gifts.

“It's a very good feeling. I really do enjoy it and it actually makes my Christmas brighter,” McLaud said.

If you'd like to adopt one of the families, call HACAP at (319) 393-7811. They'll match you up right away, and then you can head out to your favorite store and start shopping.

-- Mark Geary, KCRG-TV9