STATE

Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program seeking donors The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services' Adopt-A-Family Holiday program is seeking donors to help children, adults, people with disabilities and seniors in need in Delaware during the holiday season.

The Adopt-A-Family Holiday program anonymously matches donors to a senior, individual with a disability or a family with at least one child. In 2016, the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, through the leadership of the Human Services Councils of New Castle County and Kent/Sussex counties, helped 1, 927 Delawareans.

The deadline to adopt is Dec. 8, and gift cards and gifts must be delivered to the Adopt-A-Family office by Dec. 15. Adopt-A-Family provides the donor with the age and gender of each child in the family and a brief description of the circumstances that led to their need for assistance.

The donor then provides gift cards for the head-of-household to use to purchase holiday gifts.

The recommended minimum gift is $100 per child, with a gift card for the parent/guardian optional but thoughtful.

Those interested in adopting a senior or a person with a disability will be matched to an individual in need who is living in a nursing home or living alone receiving in-home care services. A wish list of things the individual enjoys, needs or would appreciate, as well as clothing preferences and sizes, will be provided.

Eligible recipients are referred to Adopt-A-Family by a social worker or case manager through state agencies and human service nonprofit organizations.

To adopt an individual or family, please contact: New Castle County Adopt-A-Family: Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Mail or drop off donations to Adopt-A-Family, 3301 Green St., Claymont, DE 19703. Call 792-6150 or email sharon.brown@state.de.us. Kent and Sussex Adopt-A-Family: Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Mail or drop off donations to Adopt-A-Family, 13 SW Front St., Milford, DE 19963. Call 424-7260 or email elizabeth.senato@state.de.us. After shopping for the residents, items can be dropped off at Adopt-A-Family offices. Donors will be given a code when they are matched to include with the gift cards or items when they drop them off so the Adopt-A-Family knows who should receive the items.

For more, visit adoptafamilyde.org.

Registration open for 2018 Delaware Wetlands Conference Registration is open for the 2018 Delaware Wetlands Conference, organized by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Watershed Stewardship.

The conference will be held Jan. 31 through Feb. 1, 2018, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison St., Wilmington. Online registration and information about the event, including sponsorships, can be found at de.gov/dewetlandsconference.

DNREC's Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program and the Delaware Coastal Training Program have planned a two-day event that showcases the importance of wetlands. Each day will include speakers, poster sessions, networking time, lunches and a total of 62 presentations that cover wetland restoration, climate change, mapping, education and outreach, planning and conservation and plants and animals.

New to this year's conference is a wetlands poster contest for undergraduate and graduate college students.

Discounted conference admission rates are available through Dec. 6 for early-bird registration. Registration will close Jan. 24, 2018.

For more visit bit.ly/1PEYtfx, email brittany.haywood@state.de.us or call 739-9939.