BUFFALO, N.Y. — We are the City of Good Neighbors, and in our Most Buffalo Story of the Day, 2 On Your Side is sharing how you can get a jump start on making this holiday season brighter for families across Western New York.
"The need is absolutely growing," said Alicia Stark, Development Manager at Child and Family Services.
Since the pandemic, Child and Family Services has seen the number of Western New Yorkers who benefit from the programs it offers increase.
"The taboo on mental health is breaking, thank goodness. We are now able to see different unique needs in other ways we can support the community," said Alicia Stark.
For the past twenty years, the Adopt-a-Family program has been going strong as one of those ways to meet the community's needs.
"We're able to see, wow, families need gas and grocery support. How can we share then with our generous community about this need so that we can make sure our families are seen and valued, but also experience the magic of the holiday season," said Alicia Stark.
Child and Families Services supports people through its foster care and adoption program, community-based counseling, residential treatment program, and more. Families turn in wish lists and they're matched with you.
"When a donor is interested in getting involved with Adopt-a-Family, they register with us through our website, we on the back end are having our case planners, case workers, our social workers getting wish lists from the children and family in our services," said Alicia Stark.
Alicia Stark is the Development Manager at Child and Family Services. She says the requests are wide-ranging.
"What we see here is requests for new toys on the market, but also requests for bedding, mattresses, socks, underwear. It's when our eyes are truly open to the desperate need within our community," said Alicia Stark. "We also are totally interested in gift cards. These things help us fill the gaps for our families, or you can donate monetarily. No matter what, you are truly helping a family experience rest, peace, and joy during the holidays."
Anyone can help. It takes 250 volunteers to make this happen. And last year, Child and Family Services was able to help more than 12-hundred people through this program.
"They know that they can jump start in the new year feeling free and able to continue their healing process with us," said Alicia Stark.
To learn more visit cfsbny.org/support-our-work/adopt-a-family
