The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Adopt-a-Family fulfilling wish lists
Program to help those with developmental disabilities this season.
Cherry Glover is going to smile. She’s going to look at the colorful lights on her Christmas tree with freshly wrapped gifts beneath it. She’s going to reminisce on how far she’s come as a single mom with a developmental disability. She’s going to hold her head high this holiday season and be grateful for what she’s got.
As one of more than 100 families in metro Atlanta who are recipients of Adopt-a-Family, she and her four children (ages 7-14) have a lot to be thankful for yet again this Christmas.
All About Developmental Disabilities this year continues its program of giving, providing essential items to those in need who struggle to provide for themselves as well as their families. Many of these families live in persistent poverty, making even essentials like food, cookware and clothing difficult to afford.
Each year, the organization offers the community a chance to help families living with developmental disabilities fulfill a wish list, matching them with “adopters” who can donate items as gifts.
Some adopters, like Dawn
Myers of Atlanta, have made it an annual tradition and always go above and beyond the wish list.
Myers started adopting families nine years ago, after having her first child.
“It’s one of the highlights of the holidays for me,” Myers said. “It makes this time of year complete for me … knowing I could help someone else. We live in a world where there’s so much abundance, and there’s no greater gift than being able to open your heart and give to those who really need it.”
Myers said she typically donates the essentials on the wish list, and then some.
While many individuals give to the cause, sometimes entire companies pitch in. This year, Porsche as well as Cambridge Wealth Counsel of Atlanta pooled efforts to make a difference for metro Atlanta families who have developmental disabilities.
Salome Rose, executive administrative assistant at Cambridge Wealth Counsel, said for the past six years, the company has bought presents for the program’s adopted families and held gift-wrapping parties in which they invite clients to help.
Rose said she is passionate about her duties, partly because she has a brother with a disability, and she’s been involved in previous years with All About Developmental Disabilities.
She’s driven by the ideas of “kindness and gratitude, because not everybody can get gifts during the holiday season … in fact, a lot of times people with disabilities tend to be overlooked, and people forget there’s always a need.”
Tosha Connors, development director with All About Developmental Disabilities, confirmed the need is there and it is continuous.
“A vast majority of participants are living at or above the poverty line and are in severe need,” Connors said. “All have developmental disabilities of some sort.”
Connors said it works like this: Participants (those receiving gifts) will work with (AADD) caseworkers to confirm several items per family member they’d like on a wish list “and we work to try and fulfill them.”
Caseworker Dionne Walker assisted Glover in compiling a wish list for her family. She’s worked with Glover for several years now, helping her achieve goals toward eventual independence.
“(Glover) makes it so easy,” Walker said. “She’s a very teachable person. And what I like about her is that she’s so polite, so sweet, and it’s hard to not want to help her. And she’s been doing great. She’s made so many improvements.”
Jesse Ireland, family support manager with AADD, agreed.
“Cherry (Glover) has been instrumental in achieving her goals,” Ireland said. “Every time I come here, I see great progress … she doesn’t allow her disability to rule her. She’s also a kindhearted, sweet-spirited person who has made tremendous progress.”
According to its website, AADD serves individuals with developmental disabilities throughout their lifetime: “Our philosophy is to serve the entire family in a way that meets the needs and goals of the individual with the disability.”
Glover, who is a little shy but extremely well-spoken, said AADD has been a big part of her life.
“They really feel like a family to me, because I never had that,” Glover said. “And they’ve really been there to help me just grow and learn, and I never fail … because they’ve been there for me. They have my back.”
Walker meets with Glover several times per week to assist with “life skills training,” which means they talk about how to maintain a home and how to keep it a safe environment for her and her kids. Walker tracks Glover’s progress and reports back to AADD.
“We talk about anything and everything,” Walker said.
Glover confirmed. “And I call her on the regular. I’ll be like, ‘Miss Dionne, if this happens and this happens, what do I do?’”
A recent task involved discussing where to buy a Christmas tree, going to get it, and then helping decorate it.
“Miss Dionne took me to get the decorations,” Glover said. “That tree was plain until she got here and helped me … when I’m seeing this tree, how pretty it is, it feels like a blessing. It’s really nice. I feel blessed.”
Added Glover: “I feel enthusiastic. I feel happy, because I’m just happy to get something for Christmas. I’m happy to be alive and well and be able to spend time with my kids.”
And with that, she grins so big. Glover has got so many great reasons to smile.