Crisis Center lists 11 families for ‘adoption’

Eleven Kilgore families still need help providing Christmas for their children.

Susie Prater of the Crisis Center said she started off with 51 families and have had 40 “adopted” by individuals, organizations and companies.

“Every Christmas we accept applications for assistance in providing Christmas for the children of families who need a little help,” Prater said. “These are not shelter children, but children of families who for some reason can’t quite cover everything at Christmas.”

Prater said applications are screened to see if the family is receiving assistance from another group or if they are in need because their income doesn’t quite go far enough.

The families have children under 15 years of age.

The applications contain information on the children such as ages, sizes and desired toys.

“We have several requests for bikes,” she said.

Prater said the toys need not be new but can be “gently used.”

“We have a number of single moms this year,” she said. “They’ve either had problems in the home or are self-supporting.”

Prater said some needing help are grandparents living on fixed incomes who find themselves raising their grandchildren.

“Sometimes it’s a case of other family members with their own children taking in a brother or sister’s children,” she said.

Prater said so this year an individual adopted a family, the Laird Hill Methodist Church adopted a family as did Forest Home Baptist Church and Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS).

Local industries adopting families include Guarantee Bank, Ver-Tex, Skeeter Boat, Halliburton, National Oilwell and PetroLite.

“The Angel Tree at Guarantee Bank is helping us also,” Prater said.

Prater said this year parents are asking for coats and heaters.

Last year this program provided Christmas for 118 children.

Those interested in the program should contact Prater at (903)983-3019.