AFL-CIO meets Adopt-A-Family deadline just in time for Christmas
By Leah Rainwater
Some families, who otherwise would not see anything under the Christmas tree this year, will be able to- thanks to the AFL-CIO’s Adopt-A-Family program.
There were 893 families in need of adoption this year, and the St. Joseph community banned together to provide Christmas cheer to those in need.
Gabriel Palmer, the General Manager at Geneo’s Pizza and Pub said, all it took were a few text messages to family members, coworkers and even a frequent customer.
“I was able to send out group chats to all of my family members, and they were able to pull together almost $1,000,” said Palmer. “I have a customer, who wants to remain anonymous, but he found out what I was doing and he brought in over $2,000 to donate.”
Palmer said it took seven hours to shop, wrap and donate over 300 gifts to four families registered with the AFL-CIO’s Adopt-A-Family Christmas program. Which also included extra gifts that were wrapped up and donated to the AFL-CIO’s gift room.
For Nichi Seckinger, the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO, it’s getting last minute donations, like Palmer’s, that makes everything worth it.
“The tension leading up to it is so much,” said Seckinger. “When we finally get here, it’s a mixture of excitement and relief. You don’t know if you want to cry, laugh or scream.”
Just before noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, the AFL-CIO had all Adopt-A-Family program participants adopted, including the six final families who each received gift cards and certificates.
Seckinger said waiting until the last possible moment to receive great news like this, can be stressful.
“I know it makes it kind of stressful,” said Seckinger. “We’re giving them about 12 hours to get their stuff taken care of, and you know, at least the stress they have now will be hopefully joyful stress, because shopping and getting things for your kids is a fun thing to do.”
Individuals who adopt or donate, like Palmer, are happy for the last-minute chance to jump in to make holidays better for families in need.
“I feel like everybody hits a rough point in their life, you know? I’m sure at one point, my parents struggled to buy me gifts, and they made it work,” said Palmer. “It’s really nice to see people coming together to help, you know, ensure that these kids get a good Christmas.”
Families who have not heard anything from their adopters or from the AFL-CIO when it comes to gift drop-off’s and coordination, should call the AFL-CIO at 816-364-1131.
