It’s that time of year where the spirit of giving is at a particularly high level, as well as the amount of people in need. Get into the spirit of things with your friends and family through the school by supporting Joliet’s Adopt-a-Family. This charity is a great way to help out the people in your community, and to pay forward good will. Adopt-a-Family was created by Mrs. VanTilburg and Mrs. McCormick through the Heartland Alliance, and is an organization that provides gifts and necessities to families during the holiday season. This charity works by sending you a wish list-styled email that has information regarding the background of the family that you are adopting, such as the gender, ages, and interests of those in the household. The wish list is a guide, seeing that it is not a requirement to purchase any of the items on the list. Gift cards from Jewel-Osco, Target, Kohls, Walmart, or anything along those lines are also accepted. Although there is no minimum requirement for how much should be collected or spent on each family, the average totals up to anywhere from $75 to$200. Many student clubs, classrooms, office staff, security, administrators, departments, individual teachers, and parent organizations have assisted through the years. Community members also get involved. The First Assembly of God Church has been a gracious contributor. Just in the past year, Adopt-a-Family has already helped 192 people, and in the past 12 years more than 1,200 people have been assisted by the program.

The process is completely confidential, and the gifts are personally delivered by Mrs. VanTilburg and Mrs. McCormick to each family. Would you like to provide those who are less fortunate and struggle day to day with acquiring necessities with a holiday they will never forget? There is always a reason to help out.