A recent CNN news story about “Hunger in America” has inspired an Edgecomb man to provide a Merry Christmas to five needy families.

Tony Casella saw the cable news report about how one in seven Americans rely on charitable programs and services for food. Casella, fearing these needy families - especially those headed by single mothers - couldn’t provide their families with a Christmas meal, warm winter clothing, or presents this holiday, has taken action.

Casella is sponsoring a “Family Christmas” by “adopting” five families this holiday season. Casella will host the families on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day at his banquet facility. He owns Water’s Edge Banquet and Function Facility and is the developer of Sheepscot Harbour Village & Resort in Edgecomb.

On Christmas Eve, he will provide the families with cookies, hot cocoa and a movie. On Christmas morning, the families will return for a celebration, with Santa Claus giving out presents and a five-course turkey and ham meal. As part of a “Family Christmas,” Casella wants to purchase hats, mittens and coats for the children. He also wants to buy presents for the children to make Christmas special.

Casella hopes his efforts make it a Merry Christmas for the needy families and draw attention to how many children go to bed hungry each night.

“It’s amazing at how many needy families there are in the community,” Casella said. “The CNN story reported about 50 percent of low-income children and 80 percent of parents go to bed hungry. It’s frustrating to see our country send so much money to foreign countries when we have a situation like this. So I decided to do something about it.”

Casella is asking needy families to attend an information session on Saturday, Nov. 28  at the Water’s Edge Banquet and Function Facility. The session will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He wants to meet the parents and children to better understand their situation. After the interviews, Casella, his resort manager, Tracy Clark, and other representatives will decide what applicants will be selected.

Casella doesn’t want the families to fill out an application. He wants the selection committee to ask the families questions to connect with them on a personal basis and see exactly what their needs are.

“As a judge, I’m interested in the kids’ behavior, whether their need is real and sincere, and if they mind their mother, so that’s what I need to see from them,” Casella said.

Clark believes Casella’s gesture is something needed in the community. She remembers from personal experience how her parents struggled and didn’t have a lot of money to celebrate Christmas.

“I think it’s an amazing thing what he’s doing,” Clark said. “I know how families struggle and I become emotional thinking about it. Children starving is horrible, and doing without is just not right.”

Casella’s purpose in the “Family Christmas” project is two-fold. He wants to help needy families have a Merry Christmas and also make the public aware about food insecurity issues. Casella said the CNN report had a lot of startling statistics about poverty.

The households included in the “Hunger in America” survey reported by CNN showed 66 percent had to choose between paying for food or medical services. Seventy-nine percent purchased the cheapest food available even if it wasn’t the healthiest option, according to CNN.

“Single mothers have it tough,” he said. “By the time the bills are paid these families don’t have enough left for food .... That’s just not right in a country like ours.”

Casella hopes he inspires other businesses and organizations to “adopt a family.” He believes if every business adopted four to five families it would truly be a Merry Christmas for all the needy households in the area.