By SANDY McGEE

WOONSOCKET - With the deadline only weeks away, Adopt-A-Family  volunteers are desperately seeking donors to meet the needs of 600 city children.

For the past 26 years, the Adopt-A-Family program has helped families in Woonsocket celebrate Christmas by offering wrapped gifts to be placed under  the tree. The gifts, including toys and winter clothing for children, are provided to needy families who may not have otherwise been able to purchase them.
While Adopt-A-Family has received the usual amount of applications from families in need this year, the number of donors has dropped drastically, officials say.
About 279 families or 600 children were still without donors as of Friday.
“There are just not enough donors,” said Sandy Soares, program coordinator. “I'm expecting that 300 to 400 kids will be unable to be in the program this year. We are still getting requests from people who want to be donors, but it's slowing down drastically.”
The deadline to become a donor has been extended until Dec. 9. To become a donor, individuals may call (401) 766-2291 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
According to Soares, the lack of donors is unusual. The program coordinator expects that the economy and high unemployment is a factor.
“The amount of donors has dropped off dramatically, much earlier this year than usual,” she said. “A sign of the poor economy, I'm sure.
“For six years in a row, we didn't have to turn anyone away. This year, we will have to turn families away.”
The program exclusively reaches out to Woonsocket residents. A family in need is required to prove their eligibility based on income.
As of last week's deadline to apply, Adopt-A-Family received between 1,100 and 1,200 applications from families, which is more than the 1,056 applications received in 2007.
Each donor is matched to a family. Donors are provided with a “wish list” from the kids, clothing sizes and a summary of the challenges that the family is facing. 
Regular donors are also “adopting” less children than before, Soares said.
“People are requesting less children to adopt this year,” she said. “It's the economy.”
Soares is also seeing more and more working families seek help this year instead of the unemployed.
“Forty to fifty percent of the people asking for help this year are working,” she said. “These are people who make enough to pay rent and pay bills, but when Christmas comes, there is nothing left.”
Children are also asking for necessities this year rather than toys.
“I can't tell you how many children are asking for blankets and pillows,” Soares said. “They ask for sheets, fleece blankets. It's very humbling to see that.”
Other popular items on wish lists this year include Bratz dolls and Bakugan toys. Children are also requesting Barbie dolls, scooters, books and art supplies, such as paints and canvases, Soares said.
Electronic items, such as PlayStations and Nintendo Wii’s, are not allowed. Children may request a bicycle for a “large ticket” item.
Each donor is asked to provide three to four new clothing items and three or four new toys.
Several companies have groups of employees that team up to help and “adopt” a large number of children at once.
Two of the largest donors are Fidelity in Smithfield, which “adopted” 200 children last year, and Deloitte & Touche, an accounting firm in Boston that “adopted” 140 children in 2008.
Many other companies, large and small, as well as church groups, adopt families.
“There are a lot of people from CVS, doctor's offices, law firms and a lot of companies that help out,” Soares said.
Adopt-A-Family volunteers will wrap gifts during the week of Dec. 14 at the Elks Lodge on Social Street. People that may not be able to provide gifts for an entire wish list may donate new, unwrapped items any day that week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Volunteers and cash donations are also greatly appreciated. People interested in volunteering are asked to sign up in advance.
The Adopt-A-Family organization will also use the cash donations to help families who may not be able to be matched with a donor.
People who are able to participate, volunteer or make tax deductible donations are asked to e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (401) 766-2291 and leave a message.