Adopt- A-Child program to serve 43 families this year

The Palmyra Ministerial Alliance’s Adopt-A-Child program is assisting 43 families this Christmas season.

The program’s coordinator, Cathy Fohey, said the deadline for applications has past and assistance preparations are underway with the help of local individuals, service organizations and businesses.

“If your family turned in a form for Adopt-A-Child program, you should have received a letter from the Adopt a Child committee with information,” Fohey said. 

Those who have not received information should contact Fohey, through St. Joseph Church,  at 573-769-3270.  

Distribution of items is set for Tuesday, Dec. 22 between 4 and 5:30 p.m. 

Fohey said those receiving assistance should bring the letter they received in the mail and their identification.  

Those unable to pick up their items must make other arrangements with Fohey at St. Joseph Church. 

“Please try to remember there are many people working extremely hard behind the scenes to assist you this Christmas,” Fohey said. “Please be respectful of their time and effort.”

Adopt-A-Child is a Christmas assistance program specifically designed to help out families with small children in need in the Palmyra R-I and Marion County R-II school districts.

Each year, the Adopt-A-Child program serves families in need and helps make their Christmas more meaningful by providing for them gifts for small children, basic clothing, toiletry items and a food basket.

Tax deductible monetary donations are welcome and are due by Dec. 9. However, donations will be accepted at any time.

Donation checks must be payable to PAMA and mailed to Adopt-A-Child, c/o St. Joseph Catholic Church, PO Box 606, Palmyra, MO 63461.

As part of the program, Angel Trees started appearing at various locations around the community last month. 

On the trees were Christmas ornaments representing a child and the particular gift for that child.

Persons can purchase the gift, wrap it with the Christmas ornament securely attached to the outside of the gift, return the gift to the Angel Tree from which the ornament was picked, and the gift will be taken care of from there.

Last year, the Adopt-A-Child program assisted 44 families.