By Jeff Reidel
CLEVELAND - Now is the season of giving and family.
But some are struggling to enjoy a holidays. One woman is working to meet that need head on, after facing her own hardship. Now, area children will experience a brighter holiday.
WKYC employees are helping spread holiday joy. The station is working with the Adopt a Family Association, a non-profit that matches companies that want to reach out to local families facing tough times.
CLEVELAND - Now is the season of giving and family.
But some are struggling to enjoy a holidays. One woman is working to meet that need head on, after facing her own hardship. Now, area children will experience a brighter holiday.WKYC employees are helping spread holiday joy. The station is working with the Adopt a Family Association, a non-profit that matches companies that want to reach out to local families facing tough times.
"Either they are working a low income job, they are disabled or recently laid off and there fore they can not provide for their family due to the expense" said Madeline Medley, Executive Director of the Adopt a Family Association.
Back when she worked at a local bank, Medley took it upon herself to to get fellow employees to adopt needy families during the holidays.
But when she lost her job, she made giving back her full-time job.
"My focus was to help the children. It was my great passion to go ahead and make it a non-profit and make it my own" said Medley.
The giving spirit continues to grow.
Petitti Garden Center donated and delivered Christmas trees to the families WKYC adopted.
"It means a lot because I've been quit ill for the past couple of years. And this year I was not able to get a Christmas tree. So now I will have a Christmas tree in my home and it just makes me very happy. And it's going to make my daughter happy when she gets home too" said Kanika Nunn.
"This is going to help out a lot for the holidays helping out with the family. Having a safe warm holiday" said Larry Dixon.
The need isn't just during the holiday season, and that's why Adopt a Family also has a family needs program.
"Which helps families that are transitioning from a shelter environment and needs help with house hold items, furniture and beds for the children" said Medley.
Medley is truly living her passion by giving back.
"That is my blessing. That is my Christmas" said Medley.
The Adopt a Family Christmas program has grown from supporting 70 families to over 200 families this year.
And it's not to late to help.
Back when she worked at a local bank, Medley took it upon herself to to get fellow employees to adopt needy families during the holidays.
But when she lost her job, she made giving back her full-time job.
"My focus was to help the children. It was my great passion to go ahead and make it a non-profit and make it my own" said Medley.
The giving spirit continues to grow.
Petitti Garden Center donated and delivered Christmas trees to the families WKYC adopted.
"It means a lot because I've been quit ill for the past couple of years. And this year I was not able to get a Christmas tree. So now I will have a Christmas tree in my home and it just makes me very happy. And it's going to make my daughter happy when she gets home too" said Kanika Nunn.
"This is going to help out a lot for the holidays helping out with the family. Having a safe warm holiday" said Larry Dixon.
The need isn't just during the holiday season, and that's why Adopt a Family also has a family needs program.
"Which helps families that are transitioning from a shelter environment and needs help with house hold items, furniture and beds for the children" said Medley.Medley is truly living her passion by giving back.
"That is my blessing. That is my Christmas" said Medley.
The Adopt a Family Christmas program has grown from supporting 70 families to over 200 families this year.
And it's not to late to help.
