With donations pouring in --- and the need for more still present --- the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels' Adopt-A-Family program is preparing to deliver gift baskets to 311 families in the downtown Los Angeles area Dec. 16.
"It has been an amazing year and a tremendous outpouring of generosity," Lydia Gamboa, Adopt-A-Family coordinator, said this week from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, from where volunteers will gather early this Saturday morning to assemble gift baskets (and boxes) for delivery.
"We have seen schools, parishes, corporations and individuals really come through with collecting and making donations to help these families in need," she continued. "As a result, we've been able to increase our original goal."
Approximately 700 children are among the people to be served by the program in 2006. Still needed, said Gamboa, are blankets, small heaters and warm clothing to help the families survive what is expected to be a cold winter. Many of the families live in small skid row area apartments or hotels with little or no heating, and it is not uncommon for family members to sleep on the floor because of a shortage of beds.
Toys, furniture, food (canned and/or boxed), clothing, school supplies and other essentials are also desired items. Cash contributions are welcomed to assist families, some of whose stories have been described in previous issues (Dec. 1 and Dec. 8).
Volunteers to assemble and distribute the gifts are welcome, said Gamboa. People interested in helping should be at the Cathedral, 555 W. Temple St., by 7 a.m. Dec. 16. A short prayer service will precede the distribution effort. 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. |