35 Central New York families "adopted" this holiday season

One group of employees in Verona is continuing a yearly tradition of adopting a family for the holidays.

Oneida Nation Employees at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino are working to add some more joy to the season.

This will be their eighth year in adopting a family through the catholic charities of Oneida and Madison counties.

The employees will be helping 35 Central New York families in need.

"At first I didn't know if it was a prank or not," explained Shannon.

Camden resident, Shannon says her son's school reached out to her this holiday season. And the next thing the 29-year-old knew, her family got a new bed and TV.

"My daughter loved it so much. Both the kids are freaking out about it even," said Shannon.

The single mother of two says this Christmas will be a less stressful one.

Thanks to Catholic Charities of Oneida and Madison counties Adopt-a-Family program, area employees are spreading holiday cheer by helping families,  like Shannon's, that are struggling financially.

"Just keeping a job and keeping enough to give them what they need or what they want. It's pretty difficult for me to do with one income and two children," said Shannon.

What Shannon's children don't know is that Santa will be bringing them more presents on Christmas morning.

Some Oneida Indian Nation employees "adopted" Shannon and her two kids and helped them fulfill their Christmas wish list.

"Prior to this we did our Secret Santa. We got tired of doing that, giving the traditional wine to your co-worker. So we came up with this idea to adopt a family," said Mary Clasen.

The tradition got started in 2005 in the information technology or I.T. department.

Ever since, thirteen other departments in the company have followed suit. Catholic Charities says it's not too late to adopt a family this holiday season.

Visit www.Catholiccharitiesom.Org.