ABC Run/Walk #114 is December 5

by Merlin Anderson

ABC Run/Walk # 114  will be Saturday, December 5 at Lisa and Jay Sparks’ home(3 Currie Court, Bloomington) at 8:30 a.m.  (doors open at 8:00)

ABC #114 will support a family participating in the Adopt-a-Family Program who need our help.  
We are supporting an 18 year old expecting her first baby.  She is working 20-30 hours a week with a goal to have an apartment by the time her baby arrives.   Then she aims to enroll in college courses in the Spring.  Our support will help with the necessities of independent living and building a home for her newborn.  She is now participating in the Healthy Start program through Children’s Home and Aid.

About Adopt–a-Family:

Adopt-a-Family was started in 1980 by two volunteers in their basement.  Their goal was to provide Christmas for a few needy families and several foster children.  The program was created as an effort to meet the social, emotional, and financial needs of low-income, multi-dysfunctional families.  The program soon outgrew the basement and became a program of The Children’s Foundation. For over 30 years, The Children's Foundation Adopt-a-Family Program has provided NEW items for local needy children and families at Christmas, many of whom would not otherwise receive gifts.  It is a very comprehensive program as it provides for the household needs of the family as well as those of the individual.  Our program is volunteer-driven and the support we received from the community is invaluable. Only families and individuals who are engaged on receiving services from The Children’s Foundation are eligible for Adopt-a-Family gifts.   Eligibility for individuals and families is determined by their Family Support Worker.  This is not an open enrollment program.  Recipients are required to sign a contract stating that they will not pursue getting gifts from other Christmas charity programs. All voluntary donations will go to help our family in need.   

So, let’s get together to adopt a family for Christmas and have a really fun run followed by a great breakfast and socializing at the Sparks’ home. 

The breakfast will include Lisa’s blueberry pancakes, Meg’s coffee cake, coffee, orange juice, chocolate milk, and more!  Bring something to share if you wish. 

New course! To make this an adventure, Lisa will be mapping out a new course which will communicated in a later email.

p.s. thanks to all who participated in ABC #113 and donated $512 to the Boys & Girls Club of B/N.

Upcoming ABC run:

ABC #115, at/for Sugar Grove Nature Center, Saturday, January 9, 9:00 a.m. (doors open at 8:30)