Hopkins faculty, staff and students came forward in record numbers this year to "adopt" 70 needy families--20 more than in the previous year--and 10 nonprofit human services agencies for the holiday season through JHU's 10th annual Adopt-a-Family Program, organized by the Office of Faculty, Staff and Retiree Programs.

Getting ready to distribute gifts on Dec. 18 were Eden Blum, John Testa, Joel Redding, Judy Peregoff, Joe Moody and Ed Moskowitz.

The families, who have qualified for temporary cash assistance through the city's Department of Social Services, are matched with adopting departments and individuals. Adopters speak to the head of each family to learn the names, ages, clothing sizes and any special needs of family members, then shop for gifts, wrap them as if for their own family and deliver them during the week before Christmas, often accompanied by a box or two of food. Larger departments sometimes choose to adopt an agency such as Family and Children's Services or Project PLASE (People Lacking Ample Shelter & Employment) rather than a single family.

In some cases, members of the Hopkins grounds crew make the deliveries with FSRP director Judy Peregoff and program coordinator Eden Blum. This year, the gift-giving group gathered at Evergreen House early on the morning of Dec. 18 to begin their rounds.