How the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels' Adopt-A-Family program assists families was brought home stronger than ever to program coordinator Lydia Gamboa recently as she was interviewing prospective beneficiary families in Los Angeles' Skid Row area.

In one area apartment building, a gentleman peered out of his doorway and asked if Gamboa needed assistance. When she told him why she was there, his face lit up in smiles.

"Do you know," he told Gamboa, "that when I was growing up we would never have had Christmas if not for Adopt-A-Family?" He told her that he was now a California Highway Patrolman, and his brother was a student at Cal State Los Angeles. "Adopt-A-Family gave us some hope," he said.

"That really told me that our efforts our doing some good," said Gamboa, who oversees the annual outreach program begun in the 1980s to help families living in the area of the former St. Vibiana's Cathedral. "But every year, we see so many of the same needs, we hear so many of the same stories, and it means that we need to continue our efforts."

This year, Adopt-A-Family hopes to assist 250 families with food, clothing and other essentials to be presented in gift baskets on Dec. 18. For the past six weeks, Gamboa and a team of volunteers have been interviewing families to determine specific needs and desires, and are contacting schools and donors who participate in the donation and collection of necessary items.

"We are finding that school supplies and uniforms are on the top of everyone's lists this year," Gamboa noted. "And a lot of the children and teens of the families we help are attending the various magnet schools for gifted students, which means that they really want to make their lives better. So we're really emphasizing the 'stay in school' aspect to our donors, letting them know that their contributions to help families with basic needs can make a difference in allowing so many talented and dedicated young people to pursue their dreams."

Canned and/or boxed foods, new clothing, school supplies, blankets, furniture and toys are among the items most desired. Cash contributions are also welcome to assist families, some of whose stories will be described in The Tidings over the next few weeks. Various sponsor options are available.

For information on donations or assisting as a volunteer, contact Lydia Gamboa, (213) 637-7501.