JENNINGS — The Jeff Davis Parish Communities Against Domestic Abuse wants to make sure its clients from the past year have something under the Christmas tree this holiday season.

CADA has kicked off its annual Adopt-A-Family program.

The program has helped make the holidays a little brighter for children and their families for nearly 10 years, according to Outreach Coordinator Cynthia Petry.

“The purpose of the program is to help children and families that have been in the shelter due to domestic violence,” Petry said.

“We used to be able to afford to help anyone who has received our services, but this year we are focusing on the ones we have helped in the past year,” she said.

Over 35 families were helped during last year’s Adopt-A-Family program.

“This will be a big burden off of the families this year because a lot of the parents are not working because of COVID and they are struggling especially at this time of year,” Petry said.

Petry said the program allows the community members or groups to sponsor a family for Christmas.

All families and sponsors remain anonymous.

Families wishing to be added to the program should contact CADA by Friday, Nov. 19. Families should provide the names of family members, the number and ages of children in the household and a wish list for each family member.

Sponsors will be matched with families of a particular size, then provided with a wish list from each family by Monday, Nov. 22.

Once items are purchased, they can be dropped off – wrapped or unwrapped – at the CADA office by Friday, Dec. 17. CADA will distribute the items to the families in time for Christmas.

Gifts can include toys, clothes, toiletries, gift cards and food for a Christmas meal.

The last day to sign up as sponsor is Friday, Nov. 19.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a family should contact CADA 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays at 337-616-8418.