Christmas Cheer calls for ‘Adopt a Family’
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Brandon residents are urged to step up and make the holiday season brighter for families in need as the Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer launches its annual Adopt-a-Family hamper program.
The organization plans to provide around 1,600 Christmas hampers for families that have applied this year.
The response so far has been generous, Jim Cobb, a long-time volunteer with Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer, told the Sun on Saturday.
Right: Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer volunteers Jim Cobb, Debbie Hernandez, and Wayne Clayton hold some of the food items donated by Brandon residents during the ‘Fill the Bus Campaign’ at the Safeway store on Saturday afternoon. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
“People have been very helpful with getting the non-perishable food items and gifts we’re looking for,” he said. “Although cold weather has slowed traffic slightly, the spirit of giving remains strong.”
While the exact tally of donations is difficult to quantify due to the variety of gifts received, Cobb assured residents there’s still plenty of opportunity to contribute.
“If anyone misses the bus, we’re always accepting gifts and donations down at our Christmas Cheer workshop at the corner of Seventh and Rosser Avenue, through the red doors with the big Brandon Christmas Cheer sign,” he said.
The focus this year is on the Adopt-a-Family program, which invites individuals, families, businesses, or groups to prepare a complete hamper for a family in need, Cobb said.
“We can only build so many hampers at our workshop because of capacity and storage space, so we’re asking for people to adopt a family,” he said. “We provide all the information needed to put a hamper together.” Currently, about 150 families still need to be “adopted,” and organizers encourage the community to step forward.
Interested residents can contact the Brandon Christmas Cheer office to arrange a family to support, he said. “We’re getting very close to our goal, but there’s still time to make a real difference for a family this Christmas.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer campaign, and Cobb reflected on his own decade of involvement.
“It’s amazing to see the generosity of people every year. It’s a fun thing to take part in — people come with gifts they’re happy to give, and we’re happy to receive. It’s just a joyous day,” he said.
With the holidays approaching, Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer hopes “residents will answer the call and ensure no family goes without a little Christmas joy.”
Residents can contact the Brandon Christmas Cheer office at 204-727-8933.
» X: @AbiolaOdutola