Salvation Army seeking sponsors for needy families

CINCINNATI - The Salvation Army still is seeking local sponsors to participate in its annual Adopt-a-Family program.

The annual program provides gifts for low-income families who are sponsored by individuals, groups and companies. The deadline for sponsorship has been extended to Thursday, because not enough sponsors have joined.

More than 100 families are waiting to be sponsored. 

“We’re deeply grateful to those who can sponsor a family,” said Maj. Faith Miller, divisional program secretary for The Salvation Army, in a prepared statement.

“We are blessed every year by the generosity of Adopt-a-Family sponsors who come forward to provide gifts for others, and are confident that many compassionate individuals and groups will come forward when they learn of this unmet need,” Miller added.

Sponsors for Adopt-a-Family can specify the size of family for whom they will provide gifts, and there are no requirements as to how much is spent on the gifts; that is left to the discretion of the sponsors.

After agreeing to sponsor a family, sponsors will be provided with information that provides a wish list of key items desired by the family, but it is left to the sponsors to determine what they’ll purchase and how much they’ll spend.

Sponsors will be asked to purchase and wrap the gifts for their sponsored family, and drop them off on Dec. 7 or Dec. 10 at a location to be provided to them. 

To become a sponsor, complete the application form that can be accessed by visiting www.salvationarmycincinnati.org , then click on the “Share the Joy” feature on the homepage.

Founded in 1865, The Salvation Army provides assistance to nearly 33 million Americans each year through a broad array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.

About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide.