Information below provided by Mallory Burton-Harris – Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center of East Texas (Women’s Shelter of East Texas, Inc.) – P.O. Box 510 – Lufkin, TX 75902 Phone: (936) 639-1681 – Email: mharris@fccet.com – Website: fccet.org
LUFKIN, TX – Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center of East Texas is inviting community members, businesses, churches, and organizations to participate in its Adopt-a-Family program, helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children experience the joy of the holiday season as they rebuild their lives.
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The Angelina County District Attorney’s Office generously delivered gifts for the families they adopted through the Family Crisis Center of East Texas’ Adopt-a-Family program in 2025.
For families fleeing abuse, the holidays can bring both hope and hardship. Parents may be navigating the challenges of starting over, finding safe housing, replacing belongings, and working toward financial stability, all while trying to create a sense of normalcy for their children. During this time of transition, purchasing holiday gifts may be an expense that is simply out of reach.
“Every year, we are incredibly grateful to see our community step forward to support families at the agency,” said Whitney Burran, Executive Director. “These parents are working hard to rebuild their lives after abuse, often starting over with very little. Something as simple as having gifts to give their children can mean so much to a parent who is trying to create a happy, safe holiday after experiencing so much hardship. The generosity of our community helps make those special moments possible.”
Through the Adopt-a-Family program, community members can help ease some of that burden and remind survivors that they are not alone as they take steps toward a safer future.
Individuals and groups interested in adopting a family can choose a family size that fits their budget. Staff will match adopters with a family of their preferred size, whether that includes one adult, one adult and one child, or one adult and multiple children. This flexible approach allows more community members to participate in a way that is comfortable and manageable for them.
Those interested in participating must contact the agency to adopt a family by Thursday, December 3. Once matched with a family, adopters will receive the family’s wish list of four items per family member, and instructions for gift delivery. Gifts are asked to be delivered unwrapped, along with wrapping supplies, by Thursday, December 10 to the Family Crisis Center Outreach Office at 2401 Davisville Rd in Lufkin. Gifts can also be delivered to Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and Crockett office locations, just call ahead to ensure staff are in office at your drop-off time! Providing wrapping paper, gift bags, tape, and other wrapping essentials allows the parent to take part in preparing their children’s presents and experience the joy of wrapping gifts for their families themselves.
In addition to the Adopt-a-Family program, the Family Crisis Center of East Texas is hosting a food drive throughout November to help meet the needs of survivors and their children residing in the agency’s emergency shelter. The holiday season can bring increased demand for shelter and support services as survivors seek safety and leave abusive situations, creating a greater need for essential supplies, including food. The safehouse provides three meals a day, along with snacks, to approximately 35 adults and children, and community donations help ensure these families have access to nourishing meals during a difficult time in their lives.
Community members are encouraged to donate canned goods and other nonperishable food items to help keep the agency’s pantry stocked as the need for services grows. For added convenience, supporters can also purchase needed food items through the Family Crisis Center’s Amazon Wishlist, with purchases shipped directly to the agency. Click this link to visit our Amazon Wishlist.
Every donation, whether delivered in person or shipped directly, helps continue providing nourishment, safety, and support to survivors and their children as they work toward a future free from abuse.
Community members interested in adopting a family or with any questions about the food drive are encouraged to contact Mallory Harris at mharris@fccet.com or (936) 639-1681 by Thursday, December 3.
Through the kindness of East Texas, families facing difficult circumstances can experience a brighter holiday season and begin the next chapter of their lives with the support of our caring community. Thank you so much for sharing peace and joy with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault this holiday season!
If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, staff members are here to help. The agency’s 24-hour hotline is 1-800-828-SAFE (7233) or send a confidential text to 936-552-9256.
ABOUT THE FAMILY CRISIS CENTER OF EAST TEXAS
The Family Crisis Center of East Texas (FCCET) is a non-profit organization that empowers survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by providing crisis intervention and advocacy services. The FCCET also engages the community through education to build awareness and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. Since 1979, the Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center of East Texas (Women’s Shelter of East Texas, Inc.) staffs a full array of professionals specializing in assistance for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Those services included emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline, access to food and clothing, information and referral, legal and personal advocacy, child advocacy, counseling, support groups, transitional housing, homeless prevention, financial assistance, child care assistance, and more.