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 Christmas will be a little nicer this year for dozens of Spring-Ford area children, thanks to the efforts of the Spring-Ford Rotary Club.
The club is gearing up for its sixth year of the Adopt A Family program which provides Christmas gifts to children and families in need. In the program’s first year, seven families, representing 17 children and adults, were helped. Last year, the club assisted 17 families, involving 60 children and adults.
The program is coordinated by Rotarian Tom Droege and guidance counselors in the Spring-Ford School District. The program is funded by donations by Rotarians and the community at large. In addition, both last year and this year, Grace Lutheran Church, Royersford, donated $1000 toward the purchase of grocery and drug store gift cards for the families.
The total collected from Rotarians and the community for the 2006 Christmas project, including the donation from Grace Lutheran Church, was $3950.
“We want to thank all the community and local businesses for their past and continued support,” said Droege, who has been a member of the Spring-Ford club since 1989. “We’re always asking for as much help from the community as possible in order to increase the program,” he added.
“We’re very happy to see that each year we’ve been able to increase the number of families we help,” Droege remarked.
Beth Smith, wife of Rotarian Tom Smith, has been the chief shopper for the program since its inception. She said she had previously been involved in activities at Brooke Elementary School, where her daughter attended, and this was a natural progression from that.
“This is the most important time of the year to give back,” she commented.
When a family has been identified for the program by the Spring-Ford guidance staff, the parents are asked to provide wish lists for their children. “We’ve had requests for blankets and socks,” Smith said. “Seventy-five percent (of the gifts purchased) are just basic human needs that you just take for granted for your own kids.”
She said that while the necessities are purchased first, toys are not neglected. Sometimes, in fact, they have to get back to the parents after the lists are turned in and encourage them to add some of the children’s “wishes” to the list, instead of just the necessities.
Last year, Smith said, more than 300 gifts were purchased for the program, with the recipients ranging in age from 3 months old to a high school senior.
She and a friend do the shopping on Black Friday, since that is when they are able to get the best prices and selection, Smith noted, adding that they usually head out at 3:30 a.m. to get started.
Smith stressed that one of the great things about the Rotary’s Adopt A Family program is that it is “all local, all Spring-Ford.”
Spring-Ford High School Principal Pat Nugent, also a Rotarian, said, “It’s an opportunity for the Rotary Club to work in conjunction with the school district.” The high school’s Interact Club, a service club sponsored by Rotary, meets with the Rotary Club on a Wednesday in December to wrap the gifts. Nugent commended this aspect as the students can “take part in giving.”
“We’re providing an opportunity for children to experience a nice Christmas,” Nugent said.
Anyone interested in having a part in the Adopt A Family program may send contributions, with checks made out to Spring-Ford Rotary Club, to the Rotary Club at P.O. Box 124, Royersford PA 19468.
For more information call Tom Droege at Ridge Support, 610-323-3351, or Beth Smith at Holcombe Photo, 610-948-0924.
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