Suffolk Probate & Family Probation Staff Fulfills Christmas Wish List
For Struggling Family of Four

Left to right Elaine Powers, Case Specialist; Valerie Taylor, Probation Officer; Patrice O'Brien, Probation Officer; Kelly Collins, Associate Probation Officer; Marguerite Riley, Chief Probation Officer; Tyaisha Abdul-Aziz, Case Specialist; Steve Patten, First Assistant Chief Probation Officer; Patricia Loughman-West, Probation Officer; Camille Niedzwiecki, Probation Officer Manager; Scott Angelo, Assistant Chief Probation Officer; Julie Gustafson, Probation Officer; Ed McHale, Associate Probation Officer. Not shown in picture is Tim Daley, Assistant Chief Probation Officer; Marie Cook, Probation Officer; Joyce George, Probation Officer; Steve Murga, Probation Officer; Moira Toomey, Probation Officer; Patti Puccetti, Case Specialist; Tawauka Bryant, Probation Operation Supervisor; and Clay Petion, Case Coordinator.

When Elaine Powers, a Case Specialist at the Suffolk Probate & Family Court Probation Department, received good news about her job status, she decided to pass on her good fortune to a needy family at Christmas.

"I thought "wouldn't it be nice to step up and do something in return'," Powers said.

With this in mind, she called the Dimock Street office of the Department of Children and Family (DCF) with an offer to "adopt a family" at Christmastime. To protect their privacy, DCF does not identify the family. The agency only provides the age, gender, and Christmas wish list of the children.

Powers, who has been employed by the court less than two years, was provided with a Christmas wish list for a family of four which includes three girls: 17, 15, and 10 as well as their little brother who is seven years old.

Chief Probation Officer Marguerite Riley of the Suffolk Probate & Family Court Probation Department commended Powers and her staff for helping to fulfill the dreams of children whose family has fallen on hard times.

"I'm so proud of the staff. Their capacity for generosity in these tough economic times is really impressive," Riley said.

"My colleagues really stepped up to the plate," Powers added.

She and her co-workers purchased pajamas, slippers, music CDs, body spray, and gift certificates for sneakers for the teens as well as the popular Transformers action figures for the little boy.

Powers will pack-up the gifts tomorrow and delivery them just in time for Christmas.

The Suffolk County Probate & Family Court Probation Department is one of 12 Probate & Family Court Probation departments throughout the Commonwealth. Probate & Family Court Probation Officers are involved in assisting the court in civil matters such as domestic issues, divorce, paternity, guardianship and adoption. Probate & Family Court Probation Officers are asked to perform tasks such as investigating custody issues, resolving disputes regarding visitation and enforcing court orders in child support cases.