By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG workers have adopted a family for Christmas.
Launch Housing runs the Adopt-a-Family program and pairs families in need with families in a position to give.
In a move outside the norm, this year Maurice Blackburn’s Dandenong office adopted a family of six from Greater Dandenong – a mum and dad aged 39 and 40, girls aged 19 and 16 and 16 and two-year-old boys.
“This particular family has had no presents in previous years,” Maurice Blackburn’s Shannan Mu said.
“It was fun to get involved with as an office.”
Aftershave, books, toiletries, bath toys and a sports bag were among their dream items.
“Adopt-A-Family gave us a great little summary of who our family was – ages, interests,” the law firm’s Emily Anderson said.
“Then we all just went and bought some gifts to contribute.”
Launch Housing’s Dandenong site manager Michelle Kiernan said the program started with 10 families and now involved about 250.
It’s supporting 30 families in Greater Dandenong.
“One of our staff members at the South Melbourne office, a relative of hers wanted to donate originally to one family,” Ms Kiernan said.
“They wanted to teach their children that not everybody else had the same level of privilege they had.
“We pair up the families. Their names aren’t shared but their ages and a little bit about their circumstances and interests are.
Families generally paired up with similar age brackets.
“Kids are buying for someone similar to them,” Ms Kiernan said.
“Everybody feels good about toys, but in Adopt-A-Family the parents are always included.
“That’s really different.”
She said the recipients were overwhelmed.
“It does set them up for the next 12 months,” she said.
“It takes off the pressure around the Christmas period.”
Co-ordinator Ely Lee said some of the families would have gone without to provide their kids with gifts.
“Some kids do get the Santa presents but the rent doesn’t get paid, or the rent doesn’t get paid, or mum and dad get nothing,” she said.
“Something else suffers.
“It can jeopardise their housing.”
Visit www.facebook.com/Adopt-a-Family-this-Christmas to get involved.
