Information provided by the Douglas/Elbert Task Force and the Crisis Center

Sponsorship for the Douglas/Elbert Task Force (Task Force) Santa’s Sharing holiday adopt-a-family program has declined over the past few years, and the Task Force is asking the community for much-needed help.

“Our sponsor numbers have decreased every year for the last five years,” said Nani Lindig, the Santa Sharing program coordinator. “In 2012, 152 sponsors helped families, and in 2016 only 50 sponsors offered their support and yet, the need has not lessened.”

These families, living in Douglas and Elbert counties, have ongoing needs and are referred by a case manager for the program. About 150 families need sponsoring annually, so please consider sponsoring a family this year – giving is what the holidays are about.

There are several different ways for people to participate. Sponsors can deliver wrapped gifts directly to the families and enjoy meeting the children. Or, if a sponsor prefers, they can provide parents with one or more gift cards so the parent(s) can shop and wrap the gifts for their children.

Additionally, each year a handful of Santa Sharing volunteers accept new toys and gift cards for families who pick them up from the Task Force when the families’ circumstances do not allow direct delivery by a sponsor. In 2016, 153 families received holiday gifts or gift cards from sponsors and donors.

Groups and individuals who wish to sponsor one or more families, donate new toys to the holiday Toy Chest or donate gift cards to be given out by the Task Force, please visit www.detaskforce.org to download a sponsor application or request one via email at SantasDETF@aol.com.

The Crisis Center in Castle Rock helps families and individuals who suffer from domestic violence and who struggle financially. Its 2017 Adopt-a-Family program pairs community sponsors with Crisis Center clients who do not have the resources to provide gifts for their families during the holidays.

These Crisis Center clients create a wish list for each member of their family, which consists of three items they need and three items they wish to have. Sponsors can choose between a small (1-2 person), medium (3-5 person) or large (5+) family and are encouraged to fulfill most items on the client’s wish list.

If interested in helping these families have a nice holiday, please contact the Crisis Center by the first week of November. Sponsors will be matched with a family as soon as possible and then be notified. Once the gifts have been purchased, sponsors can drop off the unwrapped presents to the Crisis Center. The gifts will be delivered to the clients by the Crisis Center staff.

The application deadline to sponsor a family is November 17, and the deadline to drop off all of the gifts is December 15. Please contact Brianna Guerrero at bguerrero@thecrisiscenter.org or call 303-678-2525 with any questions and to receive an application for sponsorship.

Giving is what the holidays are about, and these organizations are grateful to all of their supporters who help families have a happy holiday season.