CCYC Provides Services to More Youth with Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program
The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce hosted the monthly lunch today at the Centralia Community Youth Center (CCYC) with catering provided by JJ’s Family Inspired BBQ. The lunch was sponsored by Trajectory Energy Partners and proceeds from today’s lunch were donated to CCYC for their programs.
CCYC director Joshua Favors presented to the 60 in attendance focusing mainly on the Christmas Adopt-A-Family program, the Summer Camp, and the After School program.
“We have a lot of programs and services that we offer for kids in the community, but the main one that we want to talk about is Adopt-A-Family, which is coming up very soon,” said Favors.
For decades, WJBD Radio and BCMW ran the program to help families provide gifts to kids during Christmas.
“[CCYC] took it over about 3 years ago, and I've been working with [WJBD] Bruce Kropp to make Christmas a little bit better for the kids in the community in Marion County area. In the last 3 years, we've managed about 400 families a year,” said Favors.
This year, there are less programs running in the community that help kids during Christmas, which leaves City Hope Church and the Centralia Community Youth Center as the primary sources for Christmas gifts to kids.
“The Adopt-A-Family program is expecting twice the number of families applying this year than ever had before. It's very important that we try to get as much support for these programs as we can,” said Favors.
There are several ways that individuals or organizations can help with the program:
Request the information about what families are looking for and do the shopping and wrapping. Then drop the completed packages at CCYC.
Financial contributions are welcome. CCYC would send volunteers and board members to do the shopping.
Toys or other items may be accepted as donations, and CCYC will wrap them to include other gifts.
“We have one lady who's wrapped about 2,000 presents each year for the last few years,” explained Favors.
“The support is very much so appreciated. Last year, we were able to take care of every single family that applied. That is our goal. This year, we’d like to do the same thing. It means the world to us to be able to help these families.”
Families can begin to sign up in person at CCYC or at the Centralia Regional Library, starting on Monday, November 2, for two weeks. During the second week CCYC will begin to distribute lists to adopters.
Bruce Kropp with WJBD noted the history of the Adopt-A-Family program. BCMW ran the program for many years ago and were unable to continue to provide this service. The Centralia Community Youth Center stepped up to take care of the kids, with Joshua Favors doing most of the work himself. Since then, board members, volunteers, donors, churches, schools, and organizations all come together to provide Christmas to families in need.
Other CCYC programs could also use support, with the increased attendance in the four-week summer camp. Favors said the highest attendance was 99 kids in one day.
Currently, the after-school program had 75 kids in a day last month, which is one of the largest after school programs in the community. They provide recreation, computer lab, tutoring, and other activities.
In addition to supplies, food, water, and monetary donations, volunteers are also needed for the increased numbers of kids served through the CCYC.
For more information on the Centralia Community Youth Center, please call 618-532-6530.
Donations may be mailed to CCYC, 1224 E. Rexford Street, Centralia, IL 62801.
