For eleven years, The Sheehan Adopt-a-Family Program, a charitable 501(c)(3) foundation (www.safproject.org), has partnered with The Vikings for two charitable endeavors: a party for 350 kids, where each child received 10 new toys from Santa, and a food packing event with 300 volunteer Sheriff’s Department who help pack up and deliver 1530+ boxes of food to the city’s most desperate. This year, due to COVID-19, both events have devastatingly been cancelled—and children are more vulnerable to hunger and homelessness than in any other time since the Great Depression. The level of hunger in U.S. households almost tripled between 2019 and now. Even more alarming, the proportion of American children who sometimes do not have enough to eat is now as much as 14 times higher than it was last year.
I have to be honest with you: it makes me very uncomfortable to ask for contributions in 2020. My heart hurts for any of you who have experienced job loss, economic hardship or have even lost a loved one this year due to COVID19. However, I have to remind myself, that for others who have managed to get by okay, the desire to give is still very much alive, and perhaps even stronger this year.
EVERY PENNY of your contributions will purchase warm coats, toys, and groceries for the kids and families we “adopt” through the DPSS, and Stepping Forward Los Angeles, where SAF built our 2nd larger computer lab. Through internships, they teach foster youth from Group Homes (Orphanages) critical job skills, how to apply for college, and apprenticeships, find stable, safe housing and how to budget, buy and prepare food. Statistically, these youth, without intervention make up 24% of the new homeless on our streets.
You can safely contribute online using our secure form, mail your contribution to our address below, or a member of my family will safely pick up your tax-deductible donation. Should you personally know of a family or Veteran who is in dire need this year, please contact me, so we can add them to our list of families. When the whole world seems turned upside down, together let’s end this year with hope, love and generosity.
