Beacon issues appeal for help with the Christmas Adopt-A-Child program

Friday, November 25, 2011

The Beacon is issuing an appeal to the community for help with the annual Christmas Adopt-A-Child program.

The children of eligible families registered for the program, a collaborative effort between The Beacon, a local community assistance agency and food pantry, and the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP), are now available for sponsorship.

The program provides sponsors who donate food, toys and clothing during the holiday season to children 14 years of age and younger who come from low-income families. Each year, individuals, schools, businesses, churches, clubs and other organizations "adopt" children of families with poverty-level income and provide gifts for the youth.

The number of families registering this year has increased from last year, and organizers hope that many churches, clubs and individuals will again consider becoming sponsors and "adopting" children, The Beacon Director Bob Eckles said.

"We're up 30 percent this year," he said.

Eckles said there are currently 150 families and 400 children registered to receive assistance through the program and those numbers gradually increase each year.

Sometimes, rather than "adopting" a family, sponsors will donate money to the program to help the child's family purchase needed items.

Those interested in becoming sponsors may visit The Beacon, 525 E. Sixth St., between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or call (620) 223-6869 to make after-hours arrangements for selection of children. Sponsors will be provided with the child's first name, age, sex, clothing sizes and gift ideas.

Suggested spending is $25 per child.

The sponsor is responsible for buying the gifts, wrapping and labeling them with child's first name and number, and delivering them to the Community Christian Church on Monday, Dec. 12 or Tuesday, Dec. 13. Registered families can pick up their gifts Dec. 14 at the church, Eckles said.

The Beacon will provide food baskets for those families, and the Fort Scott Rotary Club will again provide new bicycles for a lucky dozen children whose names are drawn by chance.

The program has provided hundreds of children and families with food and gifts during the Christmas season since it began in 2006. Dozens of local volunteers donate time, energy and vehicles to help prepare and distribute donated items each year.

"This is a huge undertaking for 400 Bourbon County children," Eckles said in a statement. "If you are able, please consider the sacrifice of time and/or money to make Christmas brighter for these families whose income is marginal."

For more information, contact Eckles at (620) 223-6869 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.