SPONSORS SOUGHT FOR FAMILIES.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney  Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Santa Claus and his reindeer are parading into the Valencia Town Center this weekend, but they may not be stopping at every house this year even if the kids were good.

There are 50 families waiting to be adopted this holiday season in the Santa Clarita Food Pantry's Adopt-A-Family program - a charity that offers 200 less fortunate families a chance to surprise their children Christmas morning with full stockings and a bountiful meal.

``They just love it,'' said Dianne Quinlan, executive director of the pantry, of the adopted families. ``They think it's wonderful.''

For 10 years, the pantry has been matching residents, individuals and businesses together with their long-time clients, ranging from single mothers raising three children to two-parent families with five kids.

The average family has two working parents and at least four children, but the parents only earn minimum wage, making it difficult to offer their families much more than the basics, Quinlan said. Recipients for this program are chosen after they are interviewed and their files reviewed.

Once there's a match, adoptive families take up a collection and go shopping for each child and parent.

Because of limited space, the pantry is asking participants to buy gift certificates for each family member. This will enable the parent or parents to buy the gifts for the children.

The pantry also asks that adoptive families spend about $10 per family member for holiday meal gift certificates.

Without this program, ``they would not be able to provide for their family,'' Quinlan said.

The deadline to join the program has passed, but Quinlan said they will accept adoptive families through the end of the month. The presents, gift certificates and food will be delivered to the families on Dec. 14.

The pantry also is accepting food donations. Its shelves, which feeds about 2,000 people a month, half children, are empty, Quinlan said. Donations that are coming in, go out just as quickly.

``Our shelves are bare,'' she said.

For more information about joining the program or making a donation, call the pantry at [phone].