More than 50 families and 176 individuals were ensured a great Christmas thanks to the efforts of Kent Hospital employees and the hospital’s Adopt-A-Family Program. Program organizers got out the bulk of gifts Friday morning as deliveries were made to local agencies including as Catholic Charities, Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, St. Rita’s Parish, Thundermist and the West Bay Community Action. The program also adopts hospital families. But it didn’t stop Friday said Sue Barbour, who spearheads the effort. One late family request came in Friday that had her and her helpers shopping over the weekend and she was on the road delivering on Monday, as well. “We made it happen,” she said. The Kent Hospital Adopt-A-Family Program has provided gifts to families in need for the past 36 years. In 1980, one of the nursing units wanted to include a family in need in their gift exchange. The hospital chaplain recommended a family. On Christmas Eve, the head nurse and chaplain delivered the gifts to a family in Apponaug, creating the Kent Hospital Adopt A Family Program. The following year, another nursing unit asked to help a family and the program has continued to grow ever since.