Lodi Adopt a Child names interim president
Looking around his office at Lodi Adopt a Child on Thursday morning, Jerry Glenn shook his head with a smile at the dolls, action figures, soccer balls and crates full of clothes — all donated by Lodians — that take up most of the space in the room until they can be distributed to children in need for the holidays.
“This is supposed to be my office, but it got turned into a toy store,” Glenn said.
Glenn had originally served as president of the charity from 1995 to 2010, he said, and was asked to return as interim president this summer after the passing of Claude Brown, the most recent president.
“I felt badly, I had a great deal of respect for Claude,” Glenn said.
The charity’s board of directors asked Glenn to step in as interim president almost immediately, he said, and he plans to keep the organization running until a new full-time president is chosen.
The ideal candidate would be committed to helping children, Glenn said, and have enough time to dedicate to the position.
“When I was (president) before, I was probably here five to 10 hours a week,” Glenn said.
Glenn is excited to serve as interim president, he said, particularly with the holiday season approaching.
“Christmas time is a really busy but fun time around here,” Glenn said.
Adopt a Child’s main holiday project is their “Angel Card” program, where people select a card with a child’s name, age, clothing size and holiday gift requests and buy gifts for that child.
“If they send money, we’ve got to send someone out to shop,” Glenn said. “It would be much more helpful to us if people come in and pick up an Angel Card.”
Angel Cards will be available beginning Sunday at Lodi Adopt a Child, 100 E. Pine St., Lodi.
Those interested in applying for the president position should call Glenn at 209-327-0494 or Lodi Adopt a Child’s office at 209-333-1056.
“We’ll get back to you real quick,” Glenn said.