Only 35 families remain to be adopted

SDN Staff Reports

Nearly two-thirds of the 97 families in Starkville’s 2010 Adopt-A-Family Program have been adopted through Monday and organizers of the program hope to see the remaining families selected this week.
Thirty-five families remain to be adopted for the Christmas season by individuals, churches, civic groups, school groups and other families; 62 families were adopted last week and on Monday.
Individuals and organizations wishing to adopt a family may do so at the United Way offices at 1016 S. Louisville St. this Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Adoptions were slow Tuesday due to a storm-related power outage at the United Way office, which is located close to where a tornado struck the nearby Pines Mobile Home Park, said Shay McDonnell, who is helping to coordinate the program.
The Adopt-A-Family Program is being coordinated by Helping Hands Ministries of Oktibbeha County under the guidance of the United Way of North Central Mississippi and assistance of the Starkville Junior Auxiliary and the Starkville Daily News.
“Once again the Starkville-Oktibbeha County community has the joyous opportunity to make the Christmas season happier for its inhabitants who otherwise would not be able to afford gifts for one another this year,” said McDonnell.
The families in this year’s program have had their needs certified and referred to the Adopt-a-Family by professional counselors, social workers and other professionals working for the Mississippi Department of Education or the Mississippi Health Department. No additional families are being accepted for this year’s program.
The updated family listings will be published regularly as adoptions take place or until the deadline passes.
The Junior Auxiliary is providing toys to those individuals and families (not groups or churches) adopting families with children ages 8 and under. Printed instructions for obtaining the toys will be given along with the referral form.
The Friends of the Starkville Public Library is also encouraging those making adoptions to consider giving books as gifts.
A wide selection of used books for children and other age groups are available for this purpose at the public library, which is located on University Drive at South Montgomery Street.
Families still up for adoption are as follows:
• 2. Adult female; 2 girls ages 2, 1.
• 6. Adult female; adult male; 1 girl age 13.
• 8. Adult female; 1 boy age 12; 2 girls ages 14, 5.
• 9. Adult female; 3 girls ages 10, 9, 4.
• 14. Adult female; 2 boys ages 4, 8; 1 girl age 13.
• 23. Elderly woman.
• 25. Adult female; 2 boys ages 3, 2; 1 girl age 4.
• 26. Adult female; 3 boys ages 7, 5, 6 months; 1 girl age 6.
• 33. Adult female; 1 girl age 1.
• 38. Elderly woman and one adult female.
• 41. Adult female; 2 boys ages 6, 5; 1 girl age 9.
• 42. Adult female; 1 boy age 14; 1 girl age 12.
• 43. Adult female; 1 boy age 12; 3 girls ages 13, 10, 8.
• 44. Adult female; 1 girl age 8.
• 45. Adult female; adult male; 3 boys ages 11, 9, 5; 1 girl age 10.
• 47. Adult female; 3 boys ages 12, 2, 1.
• 51. Elderly woman.
• 54. Elderly woman.
• 58. Adult female; 2 boys ages 5, 3 months; 1 girl age 2.
• 59. Adult female; 1 girl age 14.
• 68. Adult female; 4 girls ages 16, 7, 6, 6.
• 73. Adult female;, 1 boy age 13.
• 74. Adult female; 3 boys ages 19, 7, 6; 1 girl age 4.
• 75. Elderly woman.
• 77. Adult female; 1 boy age 10; 1 female age 4.
• 78. 2 adult females; 1 boy age 17; 3 girls ages 9, 6, 5 months.
• 80. Elderly gentleman.
• 83. Adult female; 2 boys ages 14, 11; 1 girl age 15.
• 84. Adult female; 2 girls ages 12, 9.
• 85. Adult female; 1 boy age 17; 3 girls ages 10, 8, 6 months.
• 87. Adult female; 3 boys ages 12, 7, 1; 3 girls ages 11, 9, 4.
• 90. Adult female; 1 boy age 3.
• 93. Adult female; adult male; 2 boys ages 14, 13; 1 girl age 16.
• 94. Elderly woman.
• 97. Adult female, 1 boy age 16; 2 girls ages 12, 9 months.