ANNUAL ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM SEEKS TOY DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS BROOKLYN SOUP KITCHEN HELPS 1800 FAMILIES IN NEED

St. Johns Bread and Life Program, the largest soup kitchen in Brooklyn with a multitude of social services, is seeking toy donations and volunteers for its sixth annual Adopt-A-Family holiday program. The organization needs 5,000 new, unwrapped toys for 1,800 Brooklyn families who will receive a Christmas meal and an age appropriate toy for each child.

St. Johns Bread and Life Program, the largest soup kitchen in Brooklyn with a multitude of social services, is seeking toy donations and volunteers for its sixth annual Adopt-A-Family holiday program. The organization needs 5,000 new, unwrapped toys for 1,800 Brooklyn families who will receive a Christmas meal and an age appropriate toy for each child.

A donation from a corporation or other large entity would help us tremendously," said Father Jim Maher, Chairman of the Board of St. Johns Bread and Life Program. Toys can be tremendously expensive and wed like to help as many needy families as possible."

The Adopt-A-Family program services needy families in Brooklyns Bedford Stuyvesant community. In addition to toys, each family receives a turkey, vegetables, stuffing, soup, fruit, bread and dessert so they can enjoy a holiday meal in their own home. For homeless individuals, warm gloves, hats and socks for the winter will be provided.

St. Johns Bread and Life serves between 650-850 hot meals per day at its Bedford Stuyvesant facility. In addition, a mobile soup kitchen travels to different locations each day to feed the hungry and serves between 550-650 hot meals daily. The program also provides medical treatment, a food pantry, legal assistance, referrals to substance abuse counseling and treatment, job placement, support groups for single mothers and persons with HIV/AIDS, referrals to education, job training, housing and other services.

   For information on the Adopt-A-Family program or St. Johns Bread and Life Program, please call (718) 574-0058, ext. 16. Volunteers are also being sought for Sunday, December 15th when the toy and food packages are put together.