Another Successful Year for Adopt-a-Family and Reading Rotary

26 years ago, the Town of Reading created a program called Adopt-a-Family. The program would match Reading people in need with Reading residents or organizations. At Thanksgiving, a holiday meal is provided by the donor family, while at Christmas, the donation consists of a meal and gifts for children under 18 and adult children with disabilities. Ten years ago the club jumped in to help as budget cuts reduced staffing on the project. Soon after, the Rotary Club assumed responsibility with another smaller organization in town called ReadingCares. This year, more than 200 donor families and organizations stepped forward to make this Thanksgiving and Christmas a memorable one for nearly 50 families in Reading. The process is a team effort in getting the word out to the community. Then once the donors and recipients are registered, much of the work can take place online as a result of the clubs interest in streamlining. The fruits of the labor are seen on Distribution Day just prior to the holiday. Donors arrive at the DPW Garage early and drop their donation which is organized by the volunteers and a few hours later the recipient families arrive at the garage to pick up their donation. The entire process is kept anonymous to both the donors and the recipients.

 

Standing before the donations this past Distribution Day are: Betsy Schneider, ReadingCares, Julie Redard, Linda Ananian, Brian Snell, Reading Rotary President-Elect, John Doherty, Rotary Past President, Kerry Valle, Joanne Redard, Linda Lydecker, Brian Tobin, Joe Ferioli, Brian Crosby, Rotary Past President.Missing from picture: Linda Snell, Gregg Johnson, Rotary Past President, Richard Lombardo, Rotary Past President, John Douglas, Rotary Past President.