Around The Region, Many Programs Are Making The Difference

If you want to make a difference for others this holiday season, you can help out these programs that are trying to help others:

Adopt-a-family programs

Already, the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center has received 100 applications from families hoping to be “adopted” for the holidays.

Athena Cleveland, a family resource specialist, selects families with the greatest needs.

Corporations, schools, churches and single families have adopted families in the past, she said. People have donated trees, presents and gift certificates.

“People have been so generous,” Cleveland said. “It’s so nice to see.”

Last year, 200 families received gifts.

Call (509) 455-8722.

Wishing Star

The Wishing Star Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases, also “adopts” those families for Christmas.

Adopters are sent a wish list, ages and genders of family members. Wishing Star delivers the gifts to protect the identity of families.

Call 744-3411

Childbirth and Parenting Alone

CAPA, a Catholic Charities program, provides support for young singles who are pregnant or parenting children.

Registered clients are asked to provide a wish-list. When adopters call, they are sent the list.

CAPA emphasizes confidentiality for their clients and delivers all gifts. Thank you cards and photos of the children are sent to those who adopted a family for the holidays.

Call 325-7667

Lutheran Social Services

Two Spokane churches will place Christmas trees in their lobbies decorated with stars - each with a description and a number assigned to a foster child.

People are encouraged to take a star and place presents under that tree for that child, all marked with that child’s number.

The churches are the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and St. Marks Lutheran Church, along with the Coeur d’Alene Hastings will also have a tree.

For information call 343-5021.

Turkey giveaways

Salvation Army Family Services has plans to distribute 3,500 turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Donors should provide all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner. Donations will be given out November 21.

“It’s a one day shot,” said Chris Maston, manager for family services. “We’re still having a turkey drive as we speak.”

Call 325-6821 for more information.

Serving Thanksgiving or Christmas meals

The Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving meal doesn’t need any more volunteers. The Spokane Chiefs hockey team will be serving meals.

They do need canned items and dry foods, particularly coffee and tomato products.

“Just anything they have that they want to donate” would be welcome, said Keith Mayfield, community relations director.

Call 535-8510 for more information.

The House of Charity Thanksgiving meal on November 21 served more than 200 people last year. The Spokane Community College Awareness League is providing the meal.

What the House of Charity does need is plastic cups and plastic dinner wear.

“We’re always in need of cups, heavy duty spoons and forks,” said Cally Dewitt, kitchen manager and main cook.

Call 624-7821 for more information.