SOS program begins with 5 families

Five families completed applications in The Daily Statesman's 2013 Operation Santa program on it's first day. Below is a list of this year's initial applicants and their needs. Others will be added to the list as applications are turned in and accepted.

Anyone who would like to adopt a family is asked to contact The Daily Statesman by calling 624-4545 or by coming into the paper's offices at 133 S. Walnut St. in downtown Dexter. Those making family adoptions will receive the family's application, and at that time, the task of supplying gifts is out of the paper's hands. It will be the responsibility of the person, business, civic club, church or organization to contact the family in need and deliver the items to the family.

Each year, the paper lists about 25 or more families in need for consideration, and an earnest effort is made not to list any family that has been helped previously through the SOS program.

Last year was a record year with over 50 families in need having been helped. A generous community seems to come through every year, no matter the number of needs. The Daily Statesman is grateful for any consideration given to these applications.

Family No. 1

This is a Bernie family with five children including girls 17, 16, 12, and 11 and a 7 year-old boy. All ask for electronics. Othere requests are bicycles, makeup, and hair supplies. The parents can use tools and men's boots size 10 1/2, household items and personal hygiene items and a can opener.

Family 2

A Dexter grandmother of two girls, 12 and 11 years old, is disabled and gets no other help from outside agencies. The girls are in need of clothing and shoes. The grandmother asks for nothing.

Family 3

A single mother of a six-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy is in need this holiday season. She was gainfully employed until late October and asks for help with clothing and toys, Thomas the Train items and diapers. She cold also use dish soap, dryer sheets, queen size bed sheets and twin sheets for a toddler bed.

Family 4

A rural Dexter single mother has an 11-year-old boy who requests an Xbox 360 game system and a 7-year-old boy who would like any Karoke singing device, and a toddler almost two years old who would like a baby stroller and baby doll. The family is in need of household furnishings, with the exception of beds. They also are in need of a television.

Family 5

A single mother has two boys, ages four and three. She asks for clothing -- socks, underwear, shoes, toys and movies and says the boys enjoy toy cars. Household supplies are also a need and mother could use some clothing items including shoes.

As families are adopted, the paper will run their information one additional day, stating that they have been taken care of.