A few weeks before Christmas in 1996, Denis DeSousa, then a drummer in a local band, learned that his friend — a father of four — had lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet. Determined to help, DeSousa, with the help of family and friends, raised nearly $1,000 to ensure the family could still enjoy a Christmas with presents and a tree.
Since then, this small gesture has grown into an annual tradition that has lasted nearly three decades. Today, DeSousa’s “Adopt a family for Christmas” has expanded to help three families each year, providing food and gifts to those who might otherwise go without.