Still Plenty Of Time To Adopt-A-Family For The Holidays

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The holidays will soon be here and CBS4 Neighbors 4 Neighbors Adopt-a-Family program is in full swing. Whether you're adopting, donating a toy or contributing a gift card to the cause, there are a lot of ways to get involved.

"And as soon as I saw it on channel 4 this year, I immediately logged on, I started to look for families," said adopter Jennifer Klein

It's Jennifer Klein's first time participating in Neighbors 4 Neighbors Adopt-a-Family for the holidays program and she couldn't be more excited.

"It's just wonderful to know that you're helping somebody who's not able to do this for themselves because they're on a fixed income."

After recruiting friends and family to join her efforts, she approached her co-workers about hosting a toy drive in her office - encouraging other businesses nearby to do the same.

"And we started meeting our own neighbors here in the office park that we haven't met before and introduced them to what it is that we're doing and who it is that we're benefitting," explained Jennifer.

While Jennifer and her team of elves prepare to help their adopted family and other children through their toy drive, another family that benefitted from the adopt program last year is doing very well this year.

"I'm blessed, my son is in school, my daughter, she's in daycare, my other daughter she's in 5th grade, she's doing good in school," said Colleen Madison.

Last year was a very different story after Colleen's daughter fell ill and was hospitalized.

"I had to consistently leave work and take her back and forth to the hospital."

It affected Colleen's ability to work the 2 jobs she held down to support her family and she worried she wouldn't be able to provide for the holidays. But the YMCA of Broward County input her family into Neighbors' adopt program and soon Colleen received a special call from her adopter.

"She told me that, her and the ladies in her office adopted me and my kids for the holidays, which it made me want to cry," Colleen said. "She got diapers, a case of diapers, a case of wipes, bunch of clothes."

Back on her feet with hopes of one day adopting a family of her own, Colleen hopes others will take the chance to help others, like an adopter helped her family last year.

"Please adopt, there's a lot of families out there in need," said Colleen. "It put big smiles on my kids faces."

To learn more about all of the ways you can get involved with Neighbors 4 Neighbors Adopt-a-Family for the holidays program, visit www.neighbors4neighbors.org or call (305) 597-4404.