Adopt-a-Family stepped up to the challenge this year

MILLERTON — The number currently stands at 162 families, and while local Adopt-a-Family organizer Stacey Moore said that was a ballpark figure, it’s 50 more adopted families than last year’s efforts, and that’s a clear home-run for the 2009 holiday season.

Adopt-a-Family has been running for the last 15 years, and Moore confirmed that this year was easily the highest demand the program has faced, even if the total number of children only increased by about 40.

“We keep saying it’s the economy, and it is really is tough times for everybody,� she said.

Providing clothing and toys for 367 children is no easy task, and Moore was quick to point out that every single volunteer and Adopt-a-Family donor helps to make the fundraiser a success year to year.

“Without everyone’s help, it wouldn’t get done,� she said, before amending, “It would get done, but in a lesser way.�

One of the biggest helps this year was the participation of horse farms in the area, which banded together and personally adopted 60 families, meaning they covered the entire cost of clothing and toys. Another 20 families were covered by individual sponsors, and Moore said many families chose to adopt a family during the holiday season instead of shopping for their own families.

“There was support from all over, including across the border in Connecticut,� Moore said. “It made our budget stay within where we could do it all.�

Moore said approximately $16,000 was spent by the Adopt-a-Family branch this year (the total budget would have been doubled without 80 families being adopted), and while most of the money has already been raised, there is still room for more funding to come in and Moore said she hopes donations will continue coming in after the holidays.

“Adopt-a-Family continues to get bigger, but so does the support,� she added. “And it’s anybody from older people who donated to young children who went out and bought a toy. There were all these organizations that pooled time and money to make sure that a lot of families have Christmas.�

There has been more and more need in recent years, that’s for certain, and while Adopt-a-Family works hard to be as prepared as possible once the winter season hits, most local residents wait until the month of December to feel the holiday spirit.

“This year was essentially done in three-and-a-half weeks,� she said. “The toys never stopped coming [thanks in part to a late large donation from Jonathan Bee from local shop Hunter Bee] and the money is still coming in. We pray and hope that we covered everyone. Like I said, as big as it grows, the bigger the support. The community really is phenomenal and we can’t thank everyone enough.�

Anyone interested in continuing to support Adopt-a-Family can send checks to PO Box 880, Millerton, NY 12546.