(December 30, 2009) - For the fifth straight year, Oak Contracting has adopted a local family for the holiday season. As opposed to giving gifts to fellow employees, conducting a Secret Santa exchange, or even making a cash donation to a charity, the employees at Oak Contracting, or “Oakies” as referred to internally, decided five years ago to adopt a local family in need.

Debora Merlock, President of the Greater Edgewood Education Foundation, worked closely with Guidance Counselor Ed Naus at Edgewood High School to find a family that needed support during the holiday season.

This year, Oak adopted an Edgewood family with students attending Edgewood Middle and High Schools. Each kid received a new coat, hat, gloves, socks, pants, and shirts, and a stocking each full of candy and toiletries. They also got gift cards to JC Penney, since teenagers can be picky with clothing. The students' caregiver got a purse filled with gift cards for clothing, household needs, and groceries. For fun family gifts, the received a football, basketball, puzzles, Wii console, Wii Fit, Wii games, and a 32" flat screen TV.

On the way to drop off the gifts, a few Oakies stopped by Mars and bought $240 of groceries and delivered them along with the presents. After realizing the family didn't have a Christmas tree, the Oakies made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and got a 6' prelit tree, some ornaments, and other decorations along with two one-use cameras to capture their excitement on Christmas morning.

It's very humbling each year for employees to help out a family in our own backyard. Some take pride in buying gifts on the family's wish list, while others make cash donations, which we use to complete the shopping. The company then matches employees' contributions. Adopting a local family in need is a great way to give back to the communities in which we live and work.