Three area families still need angels to adopt them for Christmas in a program that helps struggling people celebrate the holiday.

The fourth annual program run by Women of Worth is called HoHoHo - Helping Out Helping Others Holiday Outreach.

In all, 56 families and nearly 200 children are participating in the program this year, volunteer coordinator Rose Johnson said Wednesday. Angels who adopt a family are asked to buy gifts for each family member, wrap them and take them to a donation center by early Monday morning.

The program "helps people who are trying to help themselves," Johnson said. It provides a list of needed items and sizes for each family member.

People still needing an angel are:

• A family with two small children who are living on the mother's part-time earnings after the father lost his job.

• A mother who works full-time, yet still struggles to support her two small children.

• A mother who could not work while her small son was younger, but now is working full-time.

"There are a whole lot of reasons people need help," Johnson said. "But they all are thoroughly screened. I believe all these people are very worthy and just need that little bit of extra help."

To participate, call Women of Worth at 878-1183 or 268-0792, or visit www.women-of-worth.net/index.shtml on the Web. Donations are tax-deductible.

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To contact staff writer Trina Kleist, e-mail trinak@theunion.com or call 477-4231.