Many Local Families In Need For The First Time This Christmas
PONTIAC (WWJ) - With less than two weeks until Christmas, a request for help is going out from an agency dedicated to making sure needy families have a good holiday.
The Lighthouse of Oakland County will help nearly one thousand families with gifts and food this season.
Lighthouse CEO John Zeraldo told WWJ Newsradio 950's Marie Osborne that many of these families are finding themselves in need for the first time in their lives.
"We're seeing lots of families that have never had to turn to agencies like Lighthouse for help before -- and the work that we do, not only in the holidays season but throughout the year it to hep get them back on their feet and move back toward self-sufficiency," he said.
Zeraldo said families are in need of the basics.
"We work with the family when they're putting their wish list together to make sure that the things that they're asking for are really essentials, and they're things that are gonna help with the family's immediate financial obligations -- that it's going to help make ends meet," Zeraldo said.
Zeraldo said they have volunteer "elves" who will be able to shop for those who can't. He encourages groups and offices to consider adopting large families. Families must be adopted by this Friday, Dec. 14, in order to get their gifts on time.
The holiday program is currently being run out of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pontiac. If you'd like to help, you may contact the program's offices from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday - Friday at 248-972-1497. Visit this link for more information.
