Adopt-A-Family / Adopt-A-Senior Program
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Photo courtesy of External Affairs and Development, San Martin Center |
We wish to thank all of the Johns Hopkins employees, retirees, students, and their families and friends who participated in the 2011 Adopt-a-Family/ Adopt-a-Senior Program. Your generosity resulted in record-breaking success—144 families, seniors, and adults with disabilities (a total of nearly 400 individuals) received gifts, toys, grocery store gift cards, and much more for the holiday season. More than 100 Hopkins affiliates, departments and student groups gave selflessly. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Program Description
The holiday season can be a difficult time for children with absentee parents, individuals who have been displaced from their homes as a result of domestic violence or unemployment, homebound seniors, and others in the community who are facing hardships. The Adopt-a-Family/ Adopt-a-Senior Program helps make the holiday season brighter for those in need and provides families and individuals with gifts, clothing, and grocery gift certificates that they may not otherwise receive or be able to afford.
The Johns Hopkins Adopt-a-Family / Adopt-a-Senior Program is sponsored by the Office of Work, Life and Engagement and is a charitable activity for faculty, staff, students, and retirees of all Hopkins entities and locations.
How to Participate
Information about the 2012 Adopt-a-Family/Adopt-a-Senior Program will be available in October 2012.
FAQs
Who receives help through the Johns Hopkins Adopt-a-Family/Adopt-a-Senior Program?
Which Hopkins affiliates participate in the program?
Why do Hopkins employees say they participate?
How are the donors matched with the families and seniors?
Who do I contact if I need assistance?
Who receives help through the Johns Hopkins Adopt-a-Family/Adopt-a-Senior Program?
The Office of Work, Life and Engagement partners with local agencies that serve families and seniors who are facing a bleak holiday due to a variety of circumstances. Previously adopted families and individuals have included teen mothers of young children, children of incarcerated parents, women and children displaced due to domestic violence, and seniors who are unable to pay bills and afford personal items.
Which Hopkins affiliates participate in the program?
All Hopkins affiliates are invited to adopt a family or senior for the holidays. Many employees participate as a department-wide activity, and other Hopkins donors use this as an opportunity to model for their loved ones the joys of giving to those less fortunate.
Why do Hopkins employees say they participate?
“At some point, everyone goes through a difficult time, whether it’s due to any one of the difficult situations that many of the sponsored children or adults go through or some other type of challenge. Sometimes, just the selfless act of letting someone know that you care about their situation and want to help make things a bit better for them, especially around the holidays, makes a huge difference. I’m glad that I work in an office that thinks participating in the program is important to do”. – Johns Hopkins University employee
How are the donors matched with the families and seniors?
Donors may request to adopt a family and/ or a senior. During the online registration process, donors have the opportunity to request a specific family size, gender of adopted individual(s), etc. Although we cannot guarantee an exact match, the Office of Work, Life and Engagement makes an effort to accommodate donor requests.
Who do I contact if I need assistance?
The Johns Hopkins Adopt-a-Family/ Adopt-a-Senior Program is designed to assist families and individuals who have been referred to us. If you are in need of assistance, please contact Family and Children Services of Central Maryland at 410-669-9000 or a local Social Services agency in your area.
If you are not affiliated with Johns Hopkins, please contact a local Social Services agency for information on how you can help families and seniors in your area.
We look forward to the 2012 holiday season and assisting more families and seniors. For more information, contact Brandi Monroe-Payton or call 443-997- 0338.