在过去的五年里, LaSalle’s 巴尔的摩 team has worked hard to bring joy to families in need during the holiday season. Through a partnership with 巴尔的摩 City Social Services, the team’s Adopt-A-Family initiative supports a family every year to ensure they have presents to open during the holidays.
金斯万, Senior Administrative Assistant, suggested the initiative to her team five years ago, 和 has been leading on it ever since.
I’ve always been a giving person. My family has been supporting two families every Thanksgiving 和 Christmas for over two decades. My church also sponsors families. So, it was no-brainer to share an opportunity to give back with the LaSalle team.
– 金斯万, Senior Administrative Assistant
Every year, Kim works with 巴尔的摩 City Social Services to find a family in need. She then meets with the families 和 creates a wish list based on what gift ideas the children share. Kim then sends a presentation to LaSalle’s 巴尔的摩 team with information on the family members, their wish lists 和 how to donate or buy gifts. Typically, the team gets together to wrap the gifts, but this year they are contributing virtually. Kim then delivers the gifts to the family directly along with some colleagues.
“在前几年, it’s been special getting to watch colleagues put together bikes, 打篮球, 或者把礼物包装在一起,金分享道。. “今年, we are still accepting gifts 和 donations, 和 even though we are planning to deliver the gifts in a way where we are practicing social distancing 和 wearing masks, it will still be really nice to complete a family’s holiday wish.”
In 2019, the exchange was especially memorable for Kim 和 her colleagues. When one of the children shared his ambitions to be a fireman when he was older, Kim contacted a friend who was also a fireman to help deliver the gifts. The response she received was more than she ever expected.
“On the day we agreed to deliver the gifts, I was at the family’s home 和 suddenly heard sirens down the street. 当我们出去的时候, we saw that my friend had brought an actual fire truck 和 eight other firemen joined him. Neighbors came out to participate 和 the kids got to meet the firemen 和 sit in the truck,金分享道。. “太神奇了。. Most times I don’t cry, but last year got me.”
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