Adopting A Family A Grounding Experience
Everyone knows that Christmas is the time for giving. Maybe so much so that many of us get so wrapped up in buying the most lavish gift or spending more than we planned.
Whether you stood in line for hours on Black Friday for a cheap Xbox for your kids or a new flat screen for your hubby, the mindset among Christmas shoppers is always the same: get a great gift to make someone you love happy.
But what about a perfect stranger? I really felt the power of the Christmas spirit when my office, Primary Residential Mortgage, raised $2,200 in just two days to “adopt” a needy family of six and another family of two through the Comprehensive Community Action Program in Cranston.
But the one thing that was more astonishing than the generosity of my co-workers was the actual wants and needs of the children and mothers of these families. Before sending over the Christmas wish lists, one of the program employees explained to me that the children already understood that they had simply made “wish” lists, and that they would not likely receive everything on their list.
As I quickly skimmed the lists, I was surprised to never come across the words “Ipod” or “Wii” like I would with my nieces and nephews. I gazed through them again, intently looking for “Xbox” or “Iphone.” But none of
those words were present on those short lists.
What I did see was that each child had checked boxes including coats and underwear, bedding and pajamas. The biggest “big ticket item” out of all of the children was a train set - a wish list item bordering extinction from today’s high-tech gadgets. For these families, love and happiness was counted in hats and gloves rather than Xbox games or flat screen TVs.
Sometimes Christmas is not just about the ones we love, but also the ones who need love. Our company is honored to be participating in the Adopt A Family program at the Comprehensive Community Action Program, and each of our employees became a little more grounded while reading through the family wish lists.
If you would like to join us or stay in the loop for any of our upcoming fundraisers and charitable partnerships, please feel free to check out our events page or contact me at Sbagwell@primeres.com.
If you are interested in adopting a family of your own for Christmas, the list
below is just a few of the local organizations who host a holiday adoption
program.
In This Blog Post
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Primary Residential Mortgage
647 Oaklawn Ave, Cranston, RI -
Comprehensive Community Action Program
1090 Cranston St, Cranston, RI
Robert Trager
6:22 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
This may be the best story on the Patch this Christmas season, and not a single comment. This is what Christmas is all about.
Honest Person
8:59 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Yes if it was half way true, those Lists are HIGHLY edited, I know I was sponsor for years but moved to another agency, sick of people patting self on back for a good deed ONE TIME, like others said HOW many do this year in year out on a daily baisis the VOLUNTEERS who help out year round?,
Lisa
9:10 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
Lucy's Hearth in Middletown also has plenty of families that are in need. Please contact Carin Heaney at 847-2021 to Adopt A Family today.
Maya Lincoln
9:25 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
What a beautiful story. Also, you all are amazing, generous individuals. I bet the families would be so happy, especially on Christmas. This is what the Holiday Spirit is all about.
no regr allia b
11:21 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
What a nice way to show what being human is all about no matter the season ;-}
observer
7:44 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Sara,
We are in So. Cty. and have participated in problems like this for years. This is not a self pat on the back and we chose to remain anonymous and always will.
Your comments about the lists received are especially important. The simplicity tugs at your heart strings. The lists are filled with what many of us take for granted. It is especially important during this time of the year to reach out to those less fortunate.
However I would ask everyone reading this blog to consider the needs of many all year round. Often it isn't materials things but a kind word or gesture.
To Sara-congrats to you and your office. May your example multiply 1000 times over.
observer
7:49 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Correction to above--problems (typo) programs--sorry.
Honest Person
8:54 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Personally I love how they say NO big ticket items, when you sign up to sponsor a family, read what the rules are for the families they are NOT allowed to ask for things like or name brand items, if they do put on it on the list it is either blacked out or I have "heard" they will deny the person so this one giant load of crap the kids not wanting expensive items, Please 1/2 these people are on craigslist asking for these items for FREE, posting from their iPhone.
English first
10:50 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Thank you for all the giving you do. It is great to see people giving in this "gimme world" . Know that it is great to see the middle class, who struggle themselves sometimes giving of their time and money.
xmascrl
9:30 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
I worked at an office that ded this in lieu of a gift for our Supervisor every year. It may be "selfish" to say, but it was a win-win situation all around. The family that we sponsored was able to open gifts on Christmas and we got to feel good giving them that opportunity. It's a shame that this generosity is sometimes forgotten by some when the Christmas tree comes down. I think that's why it's so important to give whenever you can. This doesn't have to be monetary or materialistic, a smile or a "hello" to a passerby could make someone's day. Those to receive are likely to pass it on to someone else! Merry Christmas, everyone!
scott d. awg
8:51 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
The South Kingstown Elks club has adopted numerous families every holiday season for years.Thanksgiving dinners were served to 310 people who wished to have one free of charge this year.This is something that as Elks they choose to do without fanfare year round.Anyone that would like to donate a toy may do so at the Elks lodge on Belmont ave. Wakefield after 12:00 daily .Happy Holidays to all
scott d. awg
7:33 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Sara this is a great thing that you and your company did,if you continue,you will be surprised how fast it gets more people involved,year after year.