Lodi Adopt-A-Child began in 1989 to fill an obvious need in the Lodi community. While he was charter president of the Lodi Police Officers’ Association, Dennis Lewis formed a small committee to give Christmas to 30 children whom he and other officers found in need of a little help that year.

In the 22 years since its foundation, the work of Adopt-A-Child has expanded dramatically with support for 1,184 children last Christmas. Moreover, in recent years they have also established a program to provide school clothes, with support for about 200 children last year. Working with a clothing manufacturer, Foundation President Jerry Glenn said that they expect to help about 400 children at the beginning of the upcoming school year. In addition, throughout the year, they meet specific needs, such as shoes, as they are identified by the local schools.