‘It’s terrible the need for food’
Donna Keefe has operated Adopt a Family in Twillingate-New World Island area for last 10 years
‘Tis the season for giving and Donna Keefe loves to give.
For 10 years now, Keefe has been helping families in need in the Twillingate-New World Island area.
Keefe, who currently lives in Newville, started Adopt a Family in 2014.
For this initiative, Keefe accepts requests from families in need during Christmastime. She then solicits donations of food and gifts from the members of her Adopt a Family Facebook group.
“I’m just trying to spread some cheer and keep my mom’s memory alive,” Keefe told The Central Wire.
She started the initiative after her mother Madeliene passed away earlier in 2014.
Her mother, she says, was a giver, who had been assisting a single dad and his daughter in the area.
When her mother died, Keefe decided she wanted to continue her mother’s efforts to help families like that in need during the holidays.
“I don’t do it for satisfaction, I just want people to be able to have good Christmases and know that people do still care,” she said.
Within her group of over 700 members, that’s apparent.
“It’s got such a good reputation and people enjoy giving to it,” said Keefe. “I’m just the person organizing it because without the people — I call them my elves, in my group — it would be absolutely nothing.”
Keefe will post a request on the page, and she says members will be quick to contribute to the cause.
HOW IT WORKS
Her efforts begin each November with a post requesting nominations for the program.
Keefe also visits schools, which, because of confidentiality, do not share any information about students but does pass along Keefe’s information to families.
She also visits social workers and churches to pass her information along.
Furthermore, Keefe has lived in the Twillingate-New World Island area her entire life and knows most of the people in the area, including many who may require support.
Once she has a list, she vets each person and sees what their specific needs are.
“I ask for the wishlist, I don’t put on a cap on it, but I also don’t make promises,” explained Keefe.
One item she tries to prioritize, however, is winter boots.
“In my mind, every child needs winter boots,” she elaborated.
“Nobody should be going around with cold feet.”
She also tries to provide two of every item. If the request is for two pairs of pants, for example, she provides two pairs of pants.
She then posts the wishlist on the Facebook page with no identifying information.
People will sometimes purchase items themselves and ship them to Keefe’s home or make a monetary donation so Keefe and her family will purchase the items themselves, in person or online.
Meanwhile, Keefe will continue posting three or four times a day to remind everyone what is happening.
Her and her partner Trevor will wrap the gifts, and then Trevor and their daughter Natalie will do the delivering.
“We enjoy doing it and it’s teaching my daughter, too, that it’s good to give,” stated Keefe.
A DIFFICULT YEAR
Keefe feels there’s a great need this year especially.
“This year a lot of the wishlist items are basic needs, like hats and mittens and socks and underwear,” she explained. “Kids shouldn’t be asking for simply that for Christmas.”
Moreover, more of the requests she received this year are for food.
“It’s terrible the need for food,” said Keefe.
She tries to go beyond acquiring the basics, however.
She wants every child to find a special gift under the tree.
This year, Keefe had requests for eight families receiving food and gifts, and another three families who need food.
She typically accepts donations from her group until Dec. 15, but she’ll go beyond that if a request comes in late.
That’s up from five families two years ago but down slightly from the 13 families they’ve helped in their busiest year.
Last year was Keefe’s slowest year as she was dealing with her father Ernest’s battle with dementia and unable to devote time to the cause.
Even undergoing that ordeal, she managed to help one family.
Her father sadly passed away earlier this year. With both parents gone, focusing on Adopt a Family has been helping Keefe keep her mind occupied.
“I don’t have time to sit here and think how this is going to be my first Christmas without my parents,” she explained. “I’m going to miss them, but it’s keeping me busy.”