I went to the meeting Wednesday and have to say I am super excited to get involved with this program. If you are looking for something to make a difference, this is it! One thing I really liked is they cross reference to make sure they are families truly in need and they help are youth to become successful adults. If you can build a float, talk on the phone, pass out flyers or separate toys you are qualified. Together we can make a difference in our community!
I have been working with this group for a number of years now and it's amazing what is done with volunteers and donations. They are expanding from just Christmas activities to tutoring school students, giving college scholarships to deserving students, and helping Seniors who want to return to the work force. Again, this is an amazing nonprofit group!!!
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I have been involved with the Jurupa Valley Firefighters Adopt a Family Program for three years and it is an extremely worthwhile group to support. JVF Adopt a Family Program has several evening parades a week through neighborhoods hoping for donations of food, new toys, and money. Santa is pulled along in a sleigh by a ‘train’ both of which were made by volunteers. Last year, 80 families, after undergoing interviews for eligibility, were fully adopted for food and gifts, 45 of which had their deliveries made by Santa. Each family that is approved for a full adoption receives approximately 2 weeks of food, a holiday meal, hygiene items, school supplies, some special needs and of course toys for the children. The JVF Adopt a Family Program still helped families who weren't accepted due to lack of funding, by referring those families to other organizations. On Christmas a small group of the volunteers, including Santa, delivered toys to local hospitals to children who were admitted that night, as well as in the waiting room and urgent care. PLEASE help this worthwhile Program be able to assist more families!
I've volunteered with this organization for the last 6 years and it is a dedicated group bringing joy to hundreds every single year! Different aspects of the organization have been around for over 20 years and I am excited to see where it is headed. This year they provided scholarships for the first time and want to provide even more next year. They have also developed other educational programs for the youth and seniors, and are looking to offer even more resources for those out of work in the community. Whether you are going to offer financial donations or spend your time with them, you can't go wrong!!
I've been helping out with this program for the last six years and they do amazing work. At Christmas they helped thousands of children and now are working to bring people out of poverty throughout the year. The program has grown a lot and they are making a tremendous impact to our community.
This wonderful program has helped out so many families in need, i am very proud to not only be a volunteer for 6 years, but also a board member.
I have worked with these people. And you will never see the looks on the children's faces as you will see when they are watching this parade. God has truly blessed the people who put this together and spends a lot of time making sure it goes well. It by far is the best non profit that I've come acrossed.
This charity has served our community for several years, and we have participated as volunteers first hand for the last 2 of those years. We were initially drawn to its annual Santa Express event, because to us, the thought of a disadvantaged (or hospitalized) child waking up on Christmas morning to no toys or visit from Santa, & then correspondingly believing Santa didn't visit because the child was somehow "bad," was truly a very sad thought. We know adults who experienced this first hand as a child. Anyway, donations to this charity benefit the LOCAL residents, after a thorough vetting process beforehand. This charity actually does much more than just collect and deliver $, donations, holiday meals, & toys to LOCAL disadvantaged children & seniors & their families. They deliver cheer, smiles, and hope to all of us throughout the year. We love JVAAF.
This is a great organization. They do so much for our community beyond helping families at Christmas, but helping local families improve the overall quality of their lives by helping find jobs, prepare for interviews, providing SAT test prep and scholarships for students.
Jurupa Valley Adopt a Family is a wonderful organization that has touched many families over the years. As a teacher I see the lack that many have and it is great knowing that this organization provides in so many ways. I hope they are around for a very long time.
I've volunteered for this non profit for almost 5 years. Helping a community of needy families is very rewarding but a lot of work. This program is the size of a mouse compared to other nonprofits, but has a heart of a lion. Never giving up, always loyal, full of integrity, and putting those in need before anything else. The creativity of fundraising and the will to give beyond our own belief, makes it all work out amazingly, even surprisingly at times. I'll be volunteering for a long time!
Our first encounter with the Jurupa Valley Adopt A Family Program was during Christmas of 2014. We were new in the neighborhood and didn't know many of our neighbors or much of what was going on in the community around us. It was during our family Christmas party at our new home that we (and about 50 of our guests) were startled by the sounds of sirens and the glare of lights on our street in front of our home. All of our guests, and my immediate family, ran outside to see what the commotion was. Well, instead of a tragedy or a crime, we were delighted to see Santa and his team of jolly elves stopping at two of our neighbors homes to deliver bicycles and an assortment of other Christmas gifts. Needless to say, our family and our guests were bowled over with delight at the scene, they couldn't believe their eyes! It really made our Christmas party the talk of the season, and left my family and friends asking, "who were those people?".
Since that time, I have learned that JVAAF does so much more than deliver Christmas gifts. They also serve the community by hosting classes to help our youth become prepared for college and LIFE in general, and help our senior community members gain re-entry into the work force. I have now just begun to become involved with this great organization and look forward to giving back to our great community.
I have been a volunteer for the Jurupa Valley Firefighters Adopt a Family and have been a witness of the positive impact they have on hundreds of people. We are very fortunate to have them as a part of our community. This has been the best organization that I have volunteered with, it has brought me and many other people great joy.
I have seen first hand the affect of this amazing program. I grew up in Jurupa Valley and this program just doesn't help the needy. It brings our community together as a whole. The few weeks before Christmas they put on a parade complete with volunteer whom have made floats and dance as costumed characters. They do that to thank the community for their donations. Over the 20 years of the program they have helped over 1000's of families with food donations enough for two weeks, personal hygiene products for the family, school supplies for the children and 4-5 toys wrapped for each child personally addressed to the child from Santa. This program is all volunteered based everyone donates 100's of hours of their time to make this program successful.From shopping for the food, to organizing deliveries to, wrapping the presents for the children and gift tagging them. Then you have Santa and his small group of elves that visit the local hospitals on Christmas Eve to bring wrapped presents the admitted children and their families. Also making sure to stop in the lobby's at the hospitals to visit with those children too. This program truly makes you feel as though you may have many hardships a community can come together.
As an educator within the community, I have observed the lack of resources a portion of our children have in regards to school supplies and hygiene products. About five years ago, I heard sounds of sirens repeatedly on my street, and went to the screen door to see what was going on. To my surprise, there was a parade of neatly decorated trailers, vintage firetrucks and holiday characters prancing in the streets. It truly made my night as I saw them wave greeting and welcoming the community to come together for some holiday cheer.
The following year, I noticed a flier on my mailbox with an event schedule and a brief description of the organization's history and focus of help. I started attending a few of their gatherings and learned that one of my friends who is also an employee of the local bakery, is an active volunteer with her father and have assisted in the organization's operation for years. Getting to know the organization and how many people they touch within our community and the surrounding areas with a limited amount of resources and man power is amazing. It is quite commendable the operation they pull off, not only providing donated toys to the children in need, but offering a substantial amount of food, hygiene products and school supplies for all family members approved for the duration of two weeks. Putting in countless amount of hours those volunteers only work for the satisfaction of the smiles and "thank you's" from the members of Jurupa Valley which is very humbling to see.
I have donated within the past and am completely happy to see this operation grow as the years go by, only showing the power of compassion for our neighbors that we should have more often.