Bellaire Rotarians had some help from family and friends wrapping and delivering personal necessities, household needs, and toys to their adopted international Christmas family this year.
Bellaire/SW Houston Rotarian Jeff Watkins, Executive Director of YMCA International Services, identified the needy family through his YMCA Adopt-a-Family Program, which facilitates “adoption” by community groups of refugees who have fled here to escape political persecution and, otherwise, would have little more than the clothes they arrived in.
Watkins also arranged for a translator to accompany the Rotarians when they visited the family, club spokesperson and Houston attorney Nan Wagoner said.
“The family members were very shy, some of them quite ill, and it was a relief to be able to explain in their native tongue our hopes and good wishes for them as new Texans and members of the Southwest Houston community,” Wagoner said.
The Christmas cheer was funded by a BSWH Rotary Club grant combined with individual donations from club members.
Bellaire Rotary is such a valuable asset in our community and other communities. They have done so much and continue to profoundly impact those that need it most through serving above themselves.