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Jeff Adachi and Children’s Waiting Room

This week, the dedicated staff at the Children’s Waiting Rooms (CWRs) hosted a holiday gathering for families, children, allies and court staff. Children visiting the waiting rooms on Monday were treated to cookies, cocoa, and special gifts thanks to Family Giving Tree’s Holiday Wish Drive and donations from members of the San Francisco community. Local stakeholders within the justice system who support the mission of the Children’s Waiting Rooms also stopped by to join the festivities, including San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy and SFSD Sgt. James Pineda.

Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, Sgt. James Pineda and CJCJ staff

For many years, the Family Giving Tree has worked with the Children’s Waiting Rooms and Cameo House to gift children with their specific, unique wishes for the holidays. The Children’s Waiting Rooms, operated and managed by CJCJ, provide a safe and fun haven for children whose parents who have business within San Francisco’s courts. Located in both the civil and criminal courthouses, the waiting rooms are outfitted with educational games and activities, and staffed by skilled and experienced childcare specialists and fully-trained volunteers. This is a free childcare service geared towards children of low and moderate-income families. 

Cameo House is CJCJ’s alternative sentencing and residential program located in the heart of the San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood that provides transitional housing for formerly incarcerated, homeless mothers and their young children. Cameo staff provide a nurturing and safe environment for the families to recover, transform, and succeed within the community.

Family at the Children’s Waiting Rooms

Working with parents and children, CJCJ’s staff understand the importance of providing not only a stable, reliable environment for vulnerable youth, but ensuring that our children have happy and positive memories especially during the holiday season. Throughout this week, Children’s Waiting Room staff will distribute over 125 wrapped gifts from the Family Giving Tree and community donations to the children and parents who participate in these programs. CJCJ is very fortunate to work with extraordinary organizations like the Family Giving Tree that are committed to providing comfort and compassion to our city’s children.

Please consider donating to the children in our program this holiday season. Your tax-deductible donation will not only support our efforts to create holiday fun for the children we serve, but also fresh, healthy snacks and other much needed items all year round.

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