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The MHWSS Adopt-a-Family program is underway. Gift and toy donations are being accepted at Davis GMC Buick and Sun Valley Honda until Dec. 18. (CHAT News Photo/Colton McKee)
Donate until Dec. 18

Women’s shelter Adopt-a-Family program adapts for 2020

Nov 10, 2020 | 4:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society’s Adopt-a-Family program has a different look this year but the heart and spirit are the same.

Instead of matching sponsors with families as in the past, the shelter has two locations for Hatters to drop-off new toys and gifts for all ages.

From now until Dec. 18 items can be dropped off at Davis GMC Buick or at Sun Valley Honda.

Parents will then be able to choose their own gifts for their family and parents will get a gift as well. There will also be a grocery hamper.

“For our families who are already suffering and who are already in crisis with family with family violence, we really just want to make sure that if they are having an extra hard time that they are still able to have Christmas through all of this and there’s something to look forward to,” says Natasha Carvalho, executive director at the shelter.

The shelter has put together a list of suggested items to donate. Cash donations can also be made, which shelter staff will take to buy gifts for the program.

Carvalho says at least 100 families are helped through Adopt-a-Family each year.

Leanne Evans, marketing specialist at Davis GMC Buick, says they were quick to agree to be a drop off location and want to help support the community that supports them.

“Supporting our community is something that is huge for our dealership and when they came to us to ask us if we could be one of the drop-off locations we absolutely jumped on it because we’ve done Adopt-a-Family in the past and we just want to make sure this program gets the support it needs.”

For more information on how you can help, visit mhwss.ca/adopt. Updates on how the donation drive is going will be posted on the sponsor social media pages throughout the program.