“Wow!” exclaimed a visitor to Johnston Town Hall as he walked into the second floor Tax Accessor’s office. “Look at all those Christmas presents; were they professionally wrapped?”
To which Valerie Laurito, a clerk in the Tax Accessor’s office, replied: “These gifts were purchased, wrapped and donated by Town Hall employees as part of our annual Adopt-A-Family program.”
A program as Janet Whiteley, the administrative assistant for Mayor Joseph Polisena, offered: “We’ve been doing this for over 10 years.”
“The COVID-19-Pandemic has made life difficult for so many people,” Laurito pointed out. “The holidays are challenging enough for families that are struggling to make ends meet, so this is the perfect time to spread some kindness and cheer to a family in our community.”
Laurito, who had a wide smile on her face, continued: “This is a heart-warming annual tradition that I am happy to be a part of.”
The man inside the Tax Accessor’s offered: “An extraordinary tradition that will no doubt make Christmas merry for some people.”
Laurito then offered: “Every year our Adopt-A-Family program gets bigger and bigger. This collection of gifts can almost reach the ceiling.”
“We have clothing, gift cards, food … all kinds of items,” Laurito went on. “This generosity begins with Mayor Joseph Polisena and his wonderful wife Lucy and Chief Staff Doug Jeffrey who know first-hand the joy of giving and what it feels like to be involved in our community by adopting a family in need.”
The unique tradition begins with Town Hall employees contacting nurses at Johnston schools about families in need. After determining which family has the greatest need, Santa’s Staff go shopping and purchase countless gifts that this year will help a family with four children.
Laurito said the gifts are packed up and will be delivered by DPW workers who are also part of the Adopt-A-Family Program that will again help people in need this Christmas.
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