This year, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels' Adopt-A-Family program hopes to assist close to 300 families with food, clothing and other essentials to be presented in gift baskets on Dec. 17.

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 this week and next.

For information on donations or assisting as a volunteer, contact Lydia Gamboa, (213) 637-7501, or visit www.olacathedral.org, and click on the Adopt-A-Family link on the home page.

Family #A01: John and Cynthia both work in the garment district in downtown Los Angeles. In their jobs, John stands and irons while Cynthia sits and sews all day. They live in a large, very old building with no heating system. They rent a large one-room apartment with their own kitchen and bathroom along with their three sons. The boys --- ages 13, 9 and 1 --- share a full size bed, while the parents sleep on a twin air mattress. When asked the oldest son what he would like for Christmas --- his response is a gift for his mother and father for all the hard work they do to keep a roof over their heads.

Family #A05: Daniel and Carmen share their very small one-room apartment with their two daughters, where they have their own kitchen but share the bathroom/shower with five other families. The first thing you notice is there are no beds in the room --- they have a small couch which the two girls sleep on and the parents sleep on the floor. The parents' only request was blankets for the girls as last winter was so cold.

Family #A04: Single parent Maricela is very grateful Adopt-A-Family will be able to help her this Christmas season. She shares her one-room hotel room with her two small children. They all sleep on a twin bed. They have no kitchen but have set up an area in the hotel room with a small toaster oven and microwave. She feels very grateful that she has her own bathroom as the girls do not have to share with the other 10 families on their floor. She would like a small portable heater for their room.

Family #A20: The Lopez family lives in a two-room apartment with their three daughters. They share a kitchen with eight other families --- everyone cooks off of one stove. They are one of the lucky ones with their own bathroom in their apartment. Javier works two miles from his apartment in the produce area of downtown Los Angeles, and is in need of a bike for transportation to work. The mother requested winter coats and umbrellas for the daughters, who walk to go to school and run errands since they do not have a car.

Family #A10: For Josephine, a set of bunk beds for her and her 12-year-old son would be a true Christmas blessing. Currently, she and her son are sleeping on blankets on the floor of their one-room apartment. She has tried to save for a set of bunk beds, but keeping food on the table and paying rent has left her with no extra money this year.