‘Glad Tidings’ turns 25

For 25 years, local families, clubs and businesses have been adopting another family for Christmas in the Glad Tidings Adopt-A-Family program.
After 35 families were adopted the first year in 1983, the program has become increasingly popular as a way to help a family hit by hard times, or perhaps a senior adult who needs some extra assistance. Since the beginning it has been co-sponsored by Douglass Community Services and the Hannibal Courier-Post. Peggy Walley, DCS support services director; and Jeanne Zerbonia of the Courier-Post are co-chairpersons.
“People don’t realize how important and rewarding it is, being able to see a smile and hear a special thank you and know that you have done a little bit of God’s work,” Zerbonia said. “I can’t thank the community enough for their continued support. The program wouldn’t continue if we didn’t have the support of Marion and Ralls county.”
Walley reported, “we had nearly 180 applications (this year) and were able to accept approximately 80 families. We probably had more than 50 more applicants than we usually receive. There are many families with children, and we really need some donors. If anyone is interested just give us a call.
“We always need more to adopt,” Walley added, explaining some companies that adopted families in the past have decided to adopt someone from their own company this year.
She appreciates the fact that, “so many companies do it every year. It is an immediate ‘yes’ when we ask them. Many take the items to them, and it is really nice.” The recipients choose whether they want the gifts delivered or want to pick them up at DCS.
Funds also may be donated, Walley said. “We don’t want to discourage money, but it is really nice to adopt a family. Families with children like to find a family with children close to their own children’s age, so their children really feel the experience and feel like they are involved.”
Walley noted that “we always seem to get a good mix of funds and people wanting to adopt a family, and we need both. People can donate funds and ask specifically we help some family with their utility bills. We are happy to work with people and we have done that in the past.”
Some also adopt their family early, she said. “In the past, some have contacted the family early and helped them through Thanksgiving and Christmas and in the coming year.”
Zerbonia said people who donate funds instead of adopting a family need not think a large amount of money is required. “Any amount will help. ...I think it is not just about adopting the families and making sure the kids have a good Christmas. It is making sure they have heat and food and even medicine, possibly helping someone get their medication. It’s just trying to be there for them whenever they need us. Some continue to help all year long. I think this year we will have a lot more needs from the community than we have ever had before, with the layoffs.
“Whatever our monetary donations are, with what we have left, we try to help in any way,” Zerbonia said. Donations need to be designated for the Glad Tidings program and may be mailed to the Courier-Post or DCS.
To adopt a family or discuss making a donation, contact Walley at Douglass Community Services, (573) 221-3890 or Zerbonia at the Hannibal Courier-Post at (573) 221-2800.
Although families often are adopted by another family or an individual, school classes, clubs and businesses also consider Glad Tidings their pet project at Christmas. Some families opt to help another family instead of exchanging Christmas gifts themselves. The adopted families complete a wish list of clothing and gifts items and donors are given the list.

Four adoption
methods offered

There are four ways to adopt a family:
• Contact the family and take the parents shopping.
• Purchase gifts and deliver them to the family.
• Purchase gifts and deliver them to DCS for the family to pick up.
• Donate funds, and a Glad Tidings committee member will take the family shopping with the family allowed to spend a certain amount per family member.
Additional committee member represent agencies including the Division of Family Services, NECAC (in Marion and Ralls counties), Hannibal Housing Authority, Parents as Teachers, FACT, RSVP and Kids in Motion.
In 2004 the program was  expanded to help senior adults who do not ask for help but have no one to give them assistance. Cards were delivered to residents of the Highrise apartments that year, and since then gift bags for nursing home residents also have been provided. In 2007, 78 families were adopted and 207 nursing home residents were helped.
Senior adults are encouraged to apply to be adopted, and the committee urges their friends or family to encourage them to apply and help with the application. Families can be adopted only once in three years.
The application process, which is done in October, includes income information and proof of residence in Marion or Ralls counties. Applicants also attend a class conducted by NECAC or other committee representative, which explained the program.

Marketing classes
adopt families

Classes at the Hannibal Career and Technical Center at Hannibal High School have been regular “adopters,” such as Sharon Fohey’s marketing and managing classes, which are helping for the fourth year.
“The kids really enjoy it,” Fohey said. “Because we are a DECA organization, we strive to give back to the community. At Christmas, it is a fulfilling time to do it.” The students are given one large family or two families.
Fohey is glad that the Glad Tidings committee does the screening and selects the families, so she knows “ the people we are helping are really in need. DCS does a really good job about providing us with families, and it is easy for the kids to see that they are doing good.”
Fohey puts paper tags with each gift request listed on Christmas trees in two classrooms at the school, and said “the kids really get into the spirit by taking the paper tags off the tree. The students are able to select what they want. We wrap it as a group, and if there is anything left we use DECA funds to go shopping and purchase the remaining items.”
Fohey takes about six students to deliver the presents, “and they often get to meet the kids,” she said. “That makes them feel good. They come back and tell the rest of the class how worthwhile it was and how it makes them feel.”
DECA partners with the HHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter and puts up one Christmas tree in that room.
HHS senior Adam Bunte is ready to help adopt the families for the third year. He appreciates Fohey’s leadership in putting details about the desired gifts on ornaments on trees for the students to select.
“We usually we have a couple weeks,” Bunte said. “We pick an ornament or two or three and go to the store and buy what is on the ornament and bring it back.”
He explained that one year the classes adopted two families: an elderly lady who lived by herself and a single mom with two sons. “You can relate to that,” Bunte said. “Being a student myself, I could kinda relate to what little boys like to have at Christmas time and what they are into. And if they want a shirt, you can figure out what looks cool or what you think they would like.
“It is nice to help out and help somebody else have a good Christmas and good holiday season,” Bunte said. “I think if more school groups got involved, it would be better. From what she was telling us, there are a whole lot of people on the list but not enough people adopt families.”