Fulton Sun

Elaine Fennewald, of Jefferson City, says adopting a family each Christmas from SERVE, makes her holiday.

“For me, it is my Christmas,” Fennewald — a former Fulton resident — said Monday. “I do it in honor of my nephew, Daniel, who was killed in an accident about five years ago at the age of 18; it’s just something to remember him by.

With her daughter grown and away from home, Fennewald said being able to help create a happy holiday for another family is “very fulfilling.”

“For me, it’s fun, I really love doing it,” she said. “I try to collect things all year long — some of my friends get involved with me.

“We all have so much, I think we forget about people who don’t have a lot. Just a few things mean so much — especially in this economy.”

With applications from families in need still pouring in, Callaway Action Network Director Julie Roark — who organizes the Adopt-a-Family program — said the organization needs more volunteers who share Fennewald’s attitude.