Adopt a Family for Christmas

 Contact Name:

 

Trischa Zumbach, Director

P.O. Box 61464

Fort Myers, FL 33906

(239)275-5180    fax (239)275-6290

E-mail:  trischa.zumbach@pmiafl.org

Website:  www.pmiafl.org

 History and Mission Statement:

 

The Pine Manor Improvement Association is a private non-profit agency that provides services to approximately 3,000 children and families that are at risk in the Pine Manor area of Fort Myers. We have been active in the community for 25 years and have been designated as a 501(c) 3 for seven years.  Pine Manor is one of six neighborhoods designated by the Lee County Board of Commissioners as “blighted” and in need of direct social service delivery.  Our mission is to improve the neighborhood by developing effective, cost efficient, holistic neighborhood revitalization strategies designed to provide decent, affordable housing, providing suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities to our residents. We have a proven track record for meeting project objectives and have worked with Lee County Board of Commissioners to develop and work toward projects which:

• Empower the communities to promote safe, viable neighborhoods
• Provide decent housing
• Encourage economic opportunities

 

Programs and Activities:

Pine Manor Improvement Association was established to strengthen at-risk families in the Pine Manor neighborhood and in recent years has become an integral part of the community.  The Association’s mission is to provide valuable resources to meet the daily needs of our community.  This includes but is not limited to a food bank, assistance with housing and services, availability of computers to complete job searches, resume writing assistance, applications for jobs, ACCESS assistance for food stamps and Medicaid and an after school program. Additionally we will use funds to improve neighborhood involvement in our ten annual events including:  Easter egg hunt, our annual Keep Lee County Beautiful Trash Bash, Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, End of Summer Fling (our goal is to provide 300 children with back packs and school supplies), Celebrating Safe Communities (community march and candle light vigil), Make a Difference Day, Annual “Trunk or Treat”, Thanksgiving dinner for Neighborhood, and Christmas Dinner with Santa and our adopt a family program.

 Our organization has incurred substantial growth in the last few years, serving almost 1,500 unduplicated clients each month, with 55% of those served being children between the ages of 0 -18.  Among the families who have children in our programs, the average yearly income is $13,000.  All of the children currently enrolled in our programs are recipients of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program at school. 

 Many of our programs are prevention-oriented and are devoted to preventing school failure and delinquency among at-risk youth.  Programs such as ours are the basis for an effective continuum of care because they are often the point of entry for families in need of multiple services.  By interacting with the families on a daily basis, we are able to identify additional services needed and make referrals as appropriate. 

 Affiliated Organizations

 Prevention services in Pine Manor are greatly needed.  To maximize our funding, we collaborate with such community agencies as the Children’s Advocacy Center, Southwest Florida Addiction Services, Inc., the Department of Children and Families, Lee County Human Services Children’s Home Society, Faith Fellowship, Lee County Literacy has free English class offered at community center, YMCA, First Assembly of God Master’s Commission, and the Good News Baptist Church to maintain current programming and to begin much-needed new programs.

 Objectives of Project to be funded:

 

Holiday Adopt a family:  This is not just a giveaway; it is an investment in the future of these children and consequently our communities.    Each of the families we adopt have completed at least 25 hours of community service hours in our community.  An additional benefit is that most of us would like to lend a hand but feel powerless to do much.  This program allows us to positively impact deserving children.  

  We hope that as we reach out to you we empower you to make a child’s Christmas wish come true, and fill you with the true spirit of Christmas and giving.  You can go to Pine Manor’s website pmiafl.org or to our face book and see the pictures of the children we have adopted through your help in the last few years.

 Concentrated poverty and child poverty; this neighborhood district has one of the highest poverty level of any neighborhood in Lee County at 32.6%;  among those livings in poverty children ages 11 and under make up 40%.  Growing up in poverty leads to conditions of deprivation and limits children’s opportunity for social, economic and cognitive development you can make a difference in our children’s lives this year with your donation.    Every family that participates also volunteers in our community at least 25 hours a year.

 We want to thank you in advance for partnering with us; we will be following up with a phone call in the next month to find out what size family you will be able to adopt this year and to match you up with some extremely wonderful families.

 Please consider supporting us. Thank you.