WOONSOCKET — If you’ve been meaning to contact Woonsocket’s Adopt-A-Family to make a donation or arrange to ‘adopt’ some kids for this year’s holiday, please don’t wait any longer. So far this year, 675 families have been matched with donors, according to Sandra Soares, Program Coordinator of this popular Woonsocket charity now in its 26th year. However, there are still about 362 eligible families with about 525 kids waiting for donors.

Last year, Adopt-A-Family was able to find donors to ‘adopt’ 2,220 children in 1,056 families. That was the fifth year all who applied and were eligible received something. “We were hoping to be able to continue that experience this year, provide something for all who are eligible, but it seems highly unlikely at this point,” said Soares. “We know that this has been a difficult year for many Americans, but I’m just hopeful that people in the Blackstone Valley area won’t forget the kids’ right in their own backyards.”

The deadline to adopt a family this year is Dec. 1. Donors are asked to give each child they adopt three to four new clothing items and two to three new toys. Anonymity is a key feature of the program. Neither the donor nor adopted family knows the other’s identity. Donors are provided with Wish Lists of the children that include their first names, sizes, interests and needs.

For more information contact Adopt-A-Family at (401) 766-2291, or write to Adopt-A-Family, Inc., P.O. Box 7665, Cumberland, RI, 02864. You can also reach them by email at adoptafamily@cox.net