MIDDLETON (WKOW) -- This holiday season, 27 News will bring you stories of groups that are helping struggling families, that could also use some help from the community themselves.
Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) hosts their 'Sharing Christmas' program every year. It's an opportunity for people in the community to give families in need a glimmer of hope and joy this holiday season.
Families fill out wish lists of gifts they'd like for Christmas, and a donor will deliver the presents to the family or the MOM office.
"We do the best to match the donors with what they're looking for with a client family based on what their needs and wants are, and then we bring them together. The donors and the clients often meet and the gifts are delivered to the house," says Judy Kujoth, MOM case worker.
Kujoth says many of the families struggle just to put food on the table, so most years, they can't buy presents for each other. But the program offers an opportunity for them to celebrate the holidays like everyone else.
This year, MOM has seen more need than ever. About 500 families are signed up for the wish list, up from around 400 last year.
Organizers say the community has stepped up in the past few weeks, but they're still looking for more help. There are 30 to 40 people left without sponsors yet.
Gifts average about $50 a person, and sponsors can choose the number of family members to support.
To get involved, click here for more information on 'Sharing Christmas'. Or, visit the program's Facebook page.
