By Patte Smith

Crisis Center in Castle Rock is asking the community to sponsor client families and individuals with their holiday 2019 Adopt-a-Family program. These families and individuals struggle day-to-day to try to make ends meet. Through their courage and resilience, they have removed themselves, and many times their children, from abusive homes and conditions. The Adopt-a-Family program helps to lift their spirits and provide a holiday filled with some happiness for their children and themselves.

Anyone interested in sponsoring an individual or family may request an appliction by emailing Amy McCandless at amccandless@thecrisiscenter.org. She will email the form back, and sponsors can choose a small, medium or large size family.

Starting in early to mid-November, sponsors who have applied will be matched with a family or individual and receive an email listing needs, wishes and “wants” from their clients. Crisis Center wants sponsors to know that it is not necessary to purchase every item on the list. “Please purchase based upon your budget,” the organization noted.

All giving is done anonymously and due to client safety and confidentiality, sponsors will not get to meet the clients. Delivery of gifts to Crisis Center will be scheduled no later than December 18. Please do not wrap the gifts. The center welcomes donations of gift bags and wrapping material when sponsors drop off the gifts. Last year, 59 clients received gifts during the holiday season thanks to the generosity of sponsors.

This year, Help & Hope Center is no longer matching families with sponsors. Instead, the organization is letting program parents shop for Christmas gifts for their children from the “special holiday store” that will be set up. The organization’s advocates will select those families with the most need to shop at the holiday store. Last year, the center assisted approximately 170 families and the hope is to help even more this year.

Donations of new and unwrapped toys may be dropped off at Help & Hope Center, 1638 Park Street, Castle Rock, Monday through Friday between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., November 18 through December 14. Additional dates to receive packages may be added. Donations must be marked “Santa’s Sharing.”

Donors wanting a list of the most wished for toys or looking to schedule an alternate donation drop-off date, email SantasHHC@gmail.com. Gifts purchased and shipped online to the center must be addressed attention Jenny Follmer. Gift cards, cash or checks to support the holiday store are also appreciated. Any toys not distributed for Christmas will be used to stock the “birthday room” that operates year-round.

For additional information, visit www.helpandhopecenter.org.

Did you know?

Crisis Center has advocates and volunteers who are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, support, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies 24/7.