Adopt-a-Family shares thank you notes highlighting community impact
(5-6 minute read)
Adopt-A-Family banner hung on DPW vehicles prior to the Christmas program. Photo by Tim Kelley from the Reading Rotary Facebook page.
As the holiday season comes to a close, organizers of Reading’s Adopt-a-Family (AAF) program reflected on another year of community generosity - one defined not only by the numbers served, but by heartfelt gratitude from families who received support.
Several anonymous thank-you notes shared with organizers offer a window into the program's impact on local households during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“We greatly [appreciate] the baby stuff its very helpful for her first [Christmas] she can have toys to play with. Thank you & Happy Holidays.”
“From our family to yours, we want to say a great big thank you. We appreciate all you did for our family over the holiday season... May your holiday be filled with joy, peace, love, laughter, and family. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.”
“This program has truly helped me as a single mother... Their faces when they saw all the wonderful gifts was truly heartwarming. This world we live in needs more people like you.”
“Thank you so much for your generosity this holiday season. You are a very kind person to do this for strangers.”
Volunteers who worked to help collect and distribute donations to recipient families. Photo by Tim Kelley on the Reading Rotary Facebook page.
Organizers say these messages are shared anonymously with donors so they can see firsthand how their contributions made a difference.
By the numbers: 2025 AAF Season
During the 2025 holiday season, AAF provided meals and/or gifts to 109 families in Reading for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Support came from 197 donors, primarily individuals and families, with several local organizations also participating.
Program leaders noted that donor generosity increased this year, both in the number of participants and the amount of monetary donations received.
Community partners make the program possible
Volunteers helping review baskets and prepare for pick up by recipients. Photo provided by Dalonn Pearson.
AAF operates under the umbrella of Reading Cares and the Reading Rotary, with support from the Town of Reading.
Several community partners played key roles this season, including:
Department of Public Works, which provides the DPW garage for distribution days, allowing donors and recipients to remain in their vehicles while volunteers load and unload items.
Metro Credit Union, which coordinated a food drive that resulted in 30 Thanksgiving baskets, each including generous gift cards.
Reading Police Department
Reading Public Schools, particularly the MLL Family Engagement Liaison
First Congregational Church of Reading
Individual volunteers who assisted on distribution days
Organizers emphasized that the program could not function without this broad, cross-community collaboration.
Growing need, growing compassion
Program leaders report that the number of families requesting assistance has increased each year, with particularly notable growth among non-English-speaking households. This year, donors were especially aware of delays and reductions in aid reaching local families and responded by giving more.
Organizers also noted an encouraging trend: individuals and groups previously uninvolved with AAF reached out proactively to ask how they could help their neighbors.
Behind the scenes: how AAF works
Planning for Adopt-a-Family beings in early October, starting with a coordination meeting to establish key dates, deadlines, and outreach strategies. Behind the scenes, volunteers:
Reading Police Department officers supporting the AAF operations at the DPW. Photo provided by Dalonn Pearson.
Identify potential recipient families through town and community partners
Review applications and coordinate mailings through Town Hall
Match donor families with recipient families for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Organize large-scale participation options for businesses and organizations
Distribution takes place at the DPW garage:
Donors drop off baskets between 8:00 - 9:00 am
Recipients pick up baskets between 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Volunteers inspect donations for completeness and safety
Unclaimed or excess items are redirected to the Police Department, Senior Center, Fire Department, or donated to the Reading Food Pantry
Continuing the work
Thanksgiving baskets ready for pick up by recipient families. Photo provided by Dalonn Pearson.
Residents interested in supporting Adopt-a-Family next year are encouraged to check the Town website in October under Elder and Human Services or email ReadingAAF@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list.
Organizers also highlighted the leadership of Betsy Schneider, who oversees AAF and other Reading Cares programs. While supported by a small core volunteer board, Schneider coordinates outreach, partnerships, and logistics that keep the program running year after year.
For many donors, including families who have participated for multiple years, the program offers a meaningful way to support neighbors and strengthen community ties.
As one organizer noted, the thank-you notes serve as a powerful reminder that even simple acts of generosity can make the holidays a little brighter for families in need, and bring a community closer together.
