Nearly 90 families received holiday gifts and essentials in 2024 through the St. John’s ICARE Foundation’s annual Adopt-A-Family program, an initiative aimed at easing the financial burden for those in need during the holiday season.
The St. John’s ICARE Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, located at 327 Beach 19th Street in Far Rockaway. The foundation focuses on improving the health and well-being of the local community through various initiatives, including patient assistance programs, educational outreach, and community-building efforts like this program.
“The holidays can be extremely stressful, especially when you’re wondering how you will purchase your gifts for your family,” said Nancy Leghart, Executive Director of the St. John’s ICARE Foundation. “Thanks to the generous support of our donors, more than 300 people from 90 families received gifts and enjoyed the holiday season.”
The program, which has become a cornerstone of the foundation’s outreach efforts, identifies families in need through referrals from social workers at the outpatient behavioral health clinics at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital. These referrals are carefully reviewed by the foundation’s Adopt-A-Family subcommittee before being matched with donors.
Donors included a diverse array of supporters, such as churches affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, staff from Episcopal Health Services, corporations like Local Media Solutions and The Port Authority of NY and NJ, and philanthropic groups such as the Kiwanis of The Rockaways.
Each donor received a wish list tailored to the families’ needs, providing items such as toys and clothing for children, along with household necessities and clothing for parents. Many contributors exceeded expectations to ensure families experienced joy during the holidays.
The initiative underscores the foundation’s mission of fostering compassion and community support during difficult times, making the holiday season brighter for struggling families in Far Rockaway and beyond.
