Gifts were deposited at the houses of a handful of Oklahoma Department of Corrections employees this Christmas season, but those people have their co-workers, not Santa, to thank for the neatly-wrapped holiday arrivals.

For the third year in a row, the agency sponsored the "adopt-a-family" program, which provides presents to the families of DOC employees who are having a tough time making ends meet during the holidays.

"It's a great program," said Debbie Boyer, Human Resources Administrator for the Oklahoma DOC.  "It gives people an opportunity to show their care and concern for their fellow co-workers during the holidays and that is really what the holidays are all about."

All of the gifts are voluntarily purchased by some of the DOC's upper level management staff, like district superintendents and unit heads.  The employees donating the presents do not know which families they have adopted, Boyer said.

In November, employees who need assistance during the holiday season are invited to send a confidential email to the human resources department, including their name, work location, home address and telephone number.  In the email, the employees are also asked to indicate what their children's gifts needs are as well as their kids' clothing sizes.

Friends of employees who are in need are welcome to submit emails on their behalf, as well, Boyer said. 

"We just send out [an announcement] and say tell us what your needs are," she said.  "We rely on our employees to be upfront about what they need and who needs it."

After the emails are received, the human resources department assigns each family a number and then transfers their information and gift requests onto index cards, which are handed out to the management staff who have chosen to participate in the program.  They only see a number on the card, rather than the identity of the employee whose family they have adopted.

Some typical gifts that were requested this year, Boyer said, are coats, gloves, socks, food baskets and toys.

"That is what we've seen most of this year," she said.  "Winter clothing is really a big thing."

Once gifts have been purchased, staff members drop them off to the human resources department, which delivers them.

"I deliver some myself," Boyer said.

Some time between December 10 and Christmas day, Boyer added, all of the gifts were delivered by the human resources staff unless the employee preferred to pick them up at the office.  This year, 36 families received presents through the "adopt-a-family" program, she said.

According to Boyer, the employees' are truly grateful for the assistance.

"They're really appreciative and thankful," Boyer said.  "[We get] emails back that say 'we really appreciate being helped over the holidays.  It's nice to know that you work for an employer where you have people who care about each other and are willing to do that.'"

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To learn more about the "adopt-a-family" program, contact Boyer at (405) 425-2844