The office at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO) is preparing to transform into Santa’s workshop for its annual adopt-a-family program.
The organization works to serve families, promote community involvement and encourage a lifetime of opportunities for people with Down syndrome. DSACO serves 23 different counties across central and southern Ohio.
It started with just 30 families and the growth has skyrocketed. The program has seen a 25% growth in the last five years, according to DSACO’s vice president Carey Eash.
DSACO is now seeking volunteers to put on their elf hats to serve at the gift drop-off and pickup. More information is available at dsaco.net on how to help.
Last year, the program provided gifts, handmade blankets and hygiene products to 92 DSACO families. This year, DSACO was able to expand its reach to 100 families through toy drives in partnership with Cricket Wireless, donations from Bottoms Up Diaper Bank and hygiene items donated from Delta Dental.
The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO) is looking for volunteers to help accept and distribute holiday gifts for its adopt-a-family program this holiday season.
“With this particular program and really all our family support programs, I like to highlight oftentimes families who have a child with a developmental disability are at a high risk for poverty just because of the additional costs,” Eash said.
“Our organization is really committed to serving the whole family, because we believe the best way to support the whole family is the best way to support people with Down syndrome.”
As they “adopted” their families, donors were able to shop based on wish lists created by the families. While this has been already prearranged, DSACO is still seeking donations for rural areas, so these families do not need to drive far to receive their gifts, Eash explained.
When the families do come in person, it is the most rewarding part of the job for DSACO’s program manager of diversity outreach Vanessa Armenta.
“That gratitude that families express is so rewarding. Sometimes, people come as a family to pick up the gifts. Sometimes, some families choose to keep it as a surprise for the kiddos until Christmas, but that joy and that gratitude that they express is just the best part of it,” she said.
Sophia Veneziano is a Columbus Dispatch reporter supported by the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation. She may be reached at sveneziano@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: DSACO brings holiday magic to Ohio families with Down syndrome