A Helping Hand, not a hand out...

The Christmas Clearinghouse, Adopt-A-Family program was formed to assist agencies, organizations and individuals with locating and eliminating the possibility of duplication when identifying needy families during the Christmas season who are in need of food.  This year the food will be distributed through the Kern County Food Bank.

The 2005 Food Drive, in conjunction with KGET-TV Channel 17 will be held November 15th from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  Donations will be accepted at the KGET-TV parking lot at  2120 L Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301.  For this event we also need volunteers to package the food for distribution.  Additionally, cardboard boxes are needed for the event.

The Volunteer Center receives the names of needy individuals from schools, churches, Salvation Army, Kern County Health Department, Kern County Mental Health, Catholic Social Services, Alliance Against Family Violence, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, Kern Linkage Program, K.E.O.E.C., Golden Empire Gleaners, Food Bank and numerous health clinics and day care programs.  These names are then cleared for duplication to insure donors that the family will receive no more than one basket.

Businesses, organizations and private individuals adopt families submitted to the Adopt-A-Family Program and supply a food basket for a family who would otherwise have nothing during the holiday season.

The program provides families with much needed staples to feed their children not only for the actual Christmas Day meal, but also for a period of approximately two weeks during the holiday vacation from school.

The program encouraged an increased number of family members involved in the referrals due to the necessity for more blended families, absent parent situations forcing grandparents to assume responsibility for numerous grandchildren, and a continued decline in family abilities to provide. 

The  Christmas Clearinghouse and Adopt-A-Family are a ray of hope during a season filled with love, hope, sharing and caring.  The big light at the end of a dark tunnel for many is open from the middle of November through December 23rd.

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