Close to 200 families are helped by Adopt a Family annually, which has been administered by the archdiocese for 24 years.
In the weeks leading up to Advent and Christmas, parishioners of the archdiocese have the opportunity to virtually “adopt” by signing up and financially assisting one of numerous families in the area who have fallen on difficult times.
For every donation made, 100 percent of the funds go to the families.
Mary Krause, the Christian Service coordinator with St. Lawrence Parish in Utica, explained that a lot of the planning for Adopt a Family is done within the local St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter, but that the pastoral staff and pastor may recommend a family as well.
“We identify those families who typically are working very hard at staying afloat but have something like a health issue or car or home repair,” she said. “This program really recognizes the dignity of the people and allows the parents to do something for their children. It lifts the burden of the daily stress of living paycheck-to-paycheck, and keeping their families in safe, clean and warm homes.”
Krause said since the program is only financial donations, it embraces Catholic social reaching on human life and dignity of the human person. With the monetary assistance, she said, “it makes it more personal and really allows them to be the kind of parent they want to be for their children.”
She said Adopt a Family helps families “have a sigh of relief and know that all the bills are paid and that they have some money set aside for, say, an emergency.”
The Adopt a Family webpage includes a growing list of families across Southeast Michigan that may be virtually “adopted.” Below are some excerpts from their stories.
• One family this year lost their father and home in a fire, and the mother of two has only been able to find employment by working part-time in a grocery store.
• In another family, the mother had a high-risk pregnancy and was on bed rest during the last trimester. After birth, the baby was diagnosed with a heart problem, and the medical bills have caused a strain on the mother’s limited income.
• A local family with six children is facing the reality of eviction and their heat turned off, as a result of the father being laid off for 14 months. While the local St. Vincent de Paul Society has helped with rent and heating bills, and the parents now have some employment, the family still needs financial assistance for Christmas gifts and clothing for their children.
• Long-active parishioners are struggling to provide for their family, as the parents have both lost their jobs and home, requiring them to move to another city. The three teenage children are working part-time to help support the family.
• A single father of two daughters recently divorced due to domestic violence, and has been granted sole custody of his children. However, he has since lost his job as a result of missing too many days during the divorce procedure.
“We are always so grateful at the generosity,” said Krause. “Sometimes these contributions are significant and make a huge difference in peoples’ lives. The generosity of the Catholic community in the Metro Detroit area is awesome — it makes me really proud to be a Catholic.”
Adopt a Family this Christmas
To learn more about the “Adopt a Family” program with the Archdiocese of Detroit, visit www.aod.org/adoptafamily, call (313) 237-4696, or email [email protected]. After reading the stories online (or see Page 9), click on a certain family to adopt, or request that your donation be evenly split among all of the families. To donate by check, address to Department of Parish Life & Services, Archdiocese of Detroit, 205 Michigan Ave., 10th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226. Write “Adopt a Family” in the memo line, and include their listed “family number” if so desired.
