<img width="235" height="240" alt="2014AdoptAFamilyPromo235px" src="/site/files/oldnewsfiles/2014AdoptAFamilyPromoLarge.jpg" class="FloatRight">The Delaware campus holiday Adopt-A-Family charity drive has returned this year with plans to help three families.<br><br> “We are seeking donations to assist these families in having a bright and cheerful holiday season,” program coordinator Mary Allen said. “We welcome gifts from the family wish lists or store gift cards to help them with expenses. We will even take monetary donations, and use them to buy presents or help the families meet pressing needs. This year, for example, one family needs beds.”<br><br>All the program recipients are selected through DVLS and law school clinics, in which they are already pro bono legal clients. Families A and B include mothers and young children who are survivors of abuse and are trying to rebuild their lives. The third family, headed by a disabled veteran, is struggling financially after the VA reduced the veteran’s benefit.<br><br><b>Donations are being accepted through Monday, Dec. 22</b>. Those who wish to donate may drop off their items at the Public Relations Office, room 276 on the Veterans Law Clinic hallway, or at the Registrar’s Office. Volunteers are needed to help wrap the gifts. A <b>wrapping party</b> will be held <b>Monday, Dec. 22</b> beginning at <b>11 a.m.</b> in the <b>clinic wing moot courtroom, room 273</b>.<br><br>The law school is also grateful to St. Edmond’s Academy in Wilmington for its donation of a Christmas tree to our program. The tree will go to “family A” – a home with five young children. <br><br>“Our recipients would have nothing to mark the holiday season with, but for the generosity of the Widener Law community through this program. I encourage everyone to get involved and help brighten the lives of families who are grappling with very difficult circumstances,” Allen said.<br><br>Below is a list of the adopted families and their needs (or <a href="~/media/Files/prmediareleases/2014/AdoptAFamilyWishLists2014.ashx">Download the full list as a pdf</a>):<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">FAMILY A </span>(<a href="/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/DelawareCivilLawClinic.aspx">Delaware Civil Law Clinic</a>)<br>Mother of 5 young children on her own. This year has been tough financially for the family. Mother has been working to get custody of her children. She found out that the father of her youngest children was abusing her oldest child. She went to the police and worked with them to protect all her kids, but doing the right thing has come with extreme financial struggles. There is no money for gifts.<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Girl Age 10</span><br>size 10-12,<br>shoe size 3 1/2<br>needs a coat/hat/gloves<br>wish list: Bicycle or Roller Blades, clothes, shoes, Barbie dolls</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Girl Age 8</span><br>size 8-10,<br>shoe size 4<br>needs a coat/hat/gloves<br>wish list: Bicycle or Roller Blades, clothes, shoes, Barbie dolls</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Girl Age 3</span><br>size 3-4,<br>shoe size 8 and 1/2 - 9 child<br>needs a coat/hat/gloves<br>wish list: Frozen Dolls, shoes</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Girl Age 2</span><br>size 2-3,<br>shoe size 7 child<br>needs a coat/hat/gloves<br>wish list: Frozen Dolls, Barbies, Shoes</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Boy Age 1</span><br>size 1-2 T,<br>shoe size 3 baby/child<br>wish list: toy cars, action figures, shoes</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mother</span><br>Clothes size is XL tops and 16 bottoms<br>Shoe size 6 1/2<br>needs a coat/hat/gloves<br>Wish list for mother: set of pots and pans</li>
<br><li>Mom shops at ShopRite, for gift cards.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">FAMILY B</span> (<a href="../../../../Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/DelawareCivilLawClinic.aspx">Delaware Civil Law Clinic</a>)<br>A single mother, 30 years old, needs help getting Christmas gifts for her two young children. The mother is currently unemployed, and is a survivor of extreme domestic violence. The mother suffered an unimaginable amount of abuse over the course of several years. Any assistance offered would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.<br><br><strong>Update:</strong> A generous donor has provided for Family B's needs. Please feel free to donate any items that you may have purchased for Family B, but we would encourage donors who have not yet purchased items to consider donating to Families A or C.<br><br><span style="font-weight: bold;">FAMILY C</span>  (<a href="/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/VeteransLawClinic.aspx">Veterans Law Clinc</a>)<br>This family comes to us from the Veterans Law clinic. The veteran and his wife are raising a young daughter and their granddaughter, whose mother recently joined them at home while she tries to regain her footing after personal setbacks. The veteran has been a client with the clinic for a year after having his disability benefits reduced by the VA. He is unable to work full time because of his service-connected disabilities.<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Father (Veteran)</span><br>Bottom Size: 36/34 Pant<br>Top Size: XL<br>Shoe: 12<br>Wishlist: Gas gift certificates for WaWa</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mother</span><br>Bottom Size: 14 pants<br>Top Size: Large<br>Shoe: 8 ½ Shoe<br>Wish List: Electric Can opener</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Daughter Age 12</span><br>Clothes Size: Medium shirt, 5 pant<br>Shoe Size: 9 1/2<br>Needs boots<br>Favorite Colors are neon green and blue<br>Loves craft kits (Michael’s Craft Store)<br>Starting to get into girly stuff, wears mascara<br>Likes Shawn Mendez (singer)</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Daughter Age 34</span><br>Sizes: XL Shirt, Pant- 16<br>Shoe: 8<br>Needs: Any kind of household item, she is moving into her own place soon (Gift certificates)</li>
<br><li>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Granddaughter Age 11</span><br>Clothes Size: medium tops, pants size 9<br>Shoe Size: 8<br>Needs boots<br>Favorite color is blue<br>She is NOT into girly stuff!<br>Avid reader (Barnes and Noble Gift Certificates)</li>
<br><li>Things both girls would want: iTunes gift certificates, Bowling Ball Bags.</li>
<br><li><strong>The family shops at Food Lion, Redners, WalMart and Kmart.</strong></li>
</ul>