Sharing Families giving robust so far, more still needed
Cash contributions totaling over $5,000 have been received and all of the 50 families have been “adopted” by River Falls area civic groups, employee groups and individuals, but more contributions are still needed, said the Sharing Families board of directors.
Cash contributions totaling over $5,000 have been received and all of the 50 families have been “adopted” by River Falls area civic groups, employee groups and individuals, but more contributions are still needed, said the Sharing Families board of directors.
“We’re seeing contributions from many of the same people as last year, and we really appreciate that support,” said Treasurer Rosalie Walker.
While all of the families have been adopted, money is still needed to buy things the sponsoring families can’t afford or find, said chairwoman Judy Wiff. Any level of help is appreciated – cash contributions or gifts that would be appropriate for kids or adults.
The deadline for bringing in gifts is Dec. 15. Gifts will be distributed
Dec. 17-18.
The names of recipient families aren’t known to contributors. Instead, only profiles such as age, sizes and clothing needs are shared with sponsors. The adopting groups then do the shopping for their respective family, assemble the unwrapped gifts and deliver them to the Journal where staff and volunteers coordinate the collections and marry them with grocery packages for each family. The food, along with grocery gift certificates, is purchased from local stores.
Last year’s grocery bill totaled $6,725. Directors decided to carry over about $5,000 from last year’s cash gifts to assure there would be adequate money to fund this year’s program.
The River Falls Journal began the Sharing Families program in 1988 and still coordinates it. Sharing Families was since incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) corporation so all gifts are tax-deductable.
The program cooperates with a similar effort led by local churches.
Board members include Wiff and Walker, Roger Leque, Pam Herink, Jerry Carter, Judie Caflisch, Mary Betzel, Mary Conroy-Johnson , Bonnie Carroll and Steve Dzubay.
Persons willing to help may:
- Make a donation of money to buy food, toys and clothing. (No cash will be given to families.)
- Add a child to their shopping list and buy a new toy or item for that child.
- Cash donations may be mailed to Sharing Families, P.O. Box 701, River Falls, WI 54022 or dropped off at collection boxes placed at River Falls State Bank, First National Bank of River Falls, WESTconsin Credit Union, Security National Bank and the River Falls Journal office.
- Gift items, which must be new and unwrapped, may also be dropped off at the Journal office during business hours.
Tags: sharing families, news
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