AFL-CIO Community Services plans to stay open extra hour to help catch up on its Adopt-A-Family program.

As of Thursdays evening only 440 out of 866 families that applied for assistance from the Christmas program had been adopted.

“Most of them try their best to manage their finances to make it day-to-day but to find extra dollars to purchase Christmas gifts is near impossible for them,” said Penny Adams, AFL-CIO Ex. Dir. “Many of them the only way they could do it is not pay their rent, or utilities…and then that gets them in a deeper hole than they’re already in.”

With more than half of the families left to be adopted the AFL-CIO is extending its hours of operation.

The agency will stay open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday- Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at its location on 1203 N. 6th Street.

For information on adopting a family or to make a donation contact the agency at (816) 364-1131 or stop by the office during business hours.