<img width="289" height="353" class="FloatRight" src="/site/files/oldnewsfiles/AdoptAFamilyDelPromo.jpg" alt="AdoptAFamilyDelPromo">With Christmas nearing, members of the Widener Law Community are offering a helping hand to those in need. The annual Widener Law Center and Clinic Adopt a Family Program has chosen five deserving families in need to provide with food, clothing, and toys for Christmas.<br><br>The Adopt a Family Program offers members of the Widener Law community a wonderful opportunity to give a child hope by demonstrating that you care. You can make a difference while doing your shopping this Holiday season by picking up some clothing or a toy for one of our adopted families while you buy presents for your loved ones. This year, students in the <a href="/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/DelawareCivilLawClinic.aspx">Delaware Civil Law Clinic</a>, the <a href="/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/PennsylvaniaCivilLawClinic.aspx">Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinic</a>, and the <a href="/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/StudentBarAssociationDelaware.aspx">Student Bar Association</a> selected five families in desperate need of help.<br><br>The first adopted family consists of a single mother who is an immigrant to the United States and her five boys, ages 2, 4, 7, 13, and 15. The mother is fighting for custody of her children against an abusive father and is struggling to support her children while working at a minimum wage job.<br><br>The second family is a mother and two daughters, ages 6 and 15. The mother was recently laid off after having fled from an abusive situation a little over a year ago. The third family also consists of a mother and two daughters, ages 9 and 15. The mother, an immigrant, suffered abuse at the hands of her children’s father and fled after he turned his abuse on the oldest daughter.<br><br>The fourth family is a mother and her three adopted children. The family adopted their eldest in 2001. In 2002, they took in a boy as a foster child. After discovering that he had a brother, they began proceedings to adopt both of them so that the boys could stay together, and in 2008, the adoption was final. Unfortunately, the father unexpectedly passed away a short time later, leaving the mother to raise all three children alone. The eldest girl is 12, and her brothers are 11 and 7.<br><br>The final family consists of a grandmother raising her granddaughter, a niece, and a great nephew. Unable to work because of a heart attack she suffered a few years ago, the family matriarch lives on a fixed income. She is the sole supporter of the children; a 17-year old girl, a 7-year old girl, and a 1-month-old boy.<br><br>Students, faculty, staff, and friends of the Law Center are encouraged to bring new clothing and toys or very gently used items to the Registrar’s office by December 21st. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the <a href="/Gateway/CurrentStudents/DelawareStudents/AcademicResources/OfficeoftheRegistrar.aspx">Registrar’s Office</a>. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to participate in a “wrapping” party on December 21st. Information about what to donate for the adopted families can be obtained from Dottie Hemphill in the registrar’s office.