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JFCS of the Suncoast Seeks Adopt-a-Family Donors to Bring Holiday Cheer to the Community Contact Name: Melanie Hayes Contact Email: mhayes@jfcs-cares.org Contact Phone Number: 9415296853 SARASOTA, FL – (November 9, 2021) After another year filled with uncertainty and economic and emotional struggles due to the Covid-19 pandemic, JFCS of the Suncoast is encouraging people to bring cheer and comfort to local families and seniors in need during the holidays. Since 2004, JFCS has organized its annual Adopt-a-Family campaign to help ease the burden on parents struggling to provide holiday meals and gifts to their families. Donors can also brighten the day of seniors in isolation. JFCS has more than 300 children and 150 seniors waiting to be adopted for the 2021 holidays. Since its inception, more than 1,800 children from over 600 families have benefitted from the Adopt-a-Family program. “I have had the pleasure of hosting the Adopt-a-Family/Adopt-a-Senior programs for the last four years and it warms my heart to see how generous donors are in the local area,” said Karen Pharo, Director of Community Outreach at JFCS. “Some of the donors deliver the gifts to the families in person and lots of tears are shed. It is wonderful to know that these families and seniors do not have to go without during this season. The community really pulls together during this time.” In 2020, donors adopted over 300 children, with donations totaling more than $60,000. Over 150 seniors received gift bags last year filled with community donations. Those wishing to adopt a family should be willing to purchase a gift card from a major retailer to help the parent shop for food. Donors will also purchase one or more of the items on the children’s holiday wish lists, as well as clothing and shoes. Those adopting a senior will provide gift bags filled with hard candy, stamps, notepads, pens, hand lotion/sanitizer, lip balm, tissues, socks, magnets, and store gift cards. Adopting community members is a rewarding and touching experience for JFCS donors. This will be the fourth year that Larissa Jones and her family will participate in Adopt-a-Family as donors. Last year, the Lakewood Ranch residents adopted a family with a 17-year-old son; they gave him football cleats, a remote-controlled toy car and several football shirts. They also purchased a set of pots and pans and a Walmart gift card for the family. “We participate in similar programs year-round and this one really spoke to us because we could involve our children and teach them the importance of helping others,” said Jones of her kids, ages 5, 7 and 18. “The most fulfilling thing is knowing the gifts put a smile on someone's face and hopefully helped give some cheer during the holiday season.” How to participate in Adopt-a-Family/Senior: If you would like to adopt a family or senior, please email Karen Pharo, Director of Community Outreach, at kpharo@jfcs-cares.org. JFCS is accepting Hanukkah gifts for seniors until Friday, Nov. 19, and Christmas gifts for families, children and seniors until Friday, Dec. 10. For more information on the program, please visit http://jfcs-cares.org. About JFCS: Celebrating its 35th year as one of the Florida Suncoast’s leading mental health and human services agencies, JFCS offers programs that support youth, families, seniors and veterans. Inspired by the Jewish tradition of helping all people, services are delivered on a non-denominational basis and with the goal of empowering individuals and families to self-sufficiency and stability. JFCS of the Suncoast believes all people are to be treated with dignity and respect and have equal opportunity to physical well-being, self-expression and joy. For more information, visit https://JFCS-Cares.org/ or call (941) 366-2224.