Dalton Cordier and Brandi Moore unload IAR staff gifts at Contact Ministries.

A needy Springfield mother and her three young children will receive all the items on their holiday wish list – and more – thanks to the generosity of IAR staff members in Springfield.

IAR staff members collected money and gifts worth more than $1,000 through an adopt-a-family program conducted through the non-profit charity Contact Ministries. The charity provided wish lists for the 23-year-old mom, her seven-year-old daughter, five-year-old son and one-year-old daughter. The lists included ages, clothing sizes and toy preferences for each family member. IAR volunteers then shopped for gifts on the lists or donated money so that colleagues could shop.

Once the shopping was complete, staffers wrapped presents and later delivered them to Contact Ministries. Gifts included coats, gloves, hats, shoes, additional clothing, toys and a gift card for the family.

IAR has worked with Contact Ministries for numerous years on this project.

(This is one part of a series of stories that shine a light on charitable community work performed by local Illinois associations and their members.  To see all of the stories published so far, search for “charitable giving.”)