More than 75 Palm Beach County children received the exact holiday gifts they wished for, thanks to Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service.
All of the children are participants in Alpert JFS’ Mentoring 4 Kids (M4K) program, a free, non-sectarian initiative that matches children ages 6 to 14 with caring, consistent adult mentors who offer friendship, stability, and support in the absence or loss of a caregiver.
More than 30 volunteer mentors joined Alpert JFS staff and the children’s families for a festive holiday celebration. Guests enjoyed dinner, crafts, and seasonal activities before the highly anticipated moment when each child opened their personalized gifts.
“This program is especially important around the holidays when our families feel it most and worry about buying gifts for their children,” said Lyndora Frazier, director of the Judith & Jack Rosenberg Mentoring 4 Kids Program at Alpert JFS. “Eighty-five percent of our Mentoring 4 Kids families face food insecurity, and 90 percent have housing concerns. This program truly brightens the kids’ holidays and makes life less stressful for the parents.”
Alpert JFS is actively seeking male mentors, as the need for positive male role models continues to grow. If you are interested in becoming a mentor — or if you would like to enroll your child in the program — please contact Alpert JFS at 561.684.1991 or visit http://www.AlpertJFS.org.
Photos courtesy of Alpert JFS.
