POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Yvonne Flowers issued a statement on social media on Christmas Eve, explaining that some families weren’t getting Christmas presents, due to “circumstances” surrounding her brother, Frank Flowers, who traditionally runs the Adopt-a-Family portion of the John Flowers Community Events (JFCE).
. The recent charges involve the mother of his most recent child. He spent a few days in the Dutchess County Jail before he was bailed out and placed under the supervision of Dutchess County Probation. Those circumstances, according to Mayor Flowers, “overwhelmed” the volunteers who operated without the assistance of Frank Flowers.
In the explanation, Mayor Flowers said, “For those who did not receive a call or text about your letter, we apologize that your request could not be filled. There were not enough people to adopt families this year, and due to the current circumstances, donations stopped so we were not able to buy additional toys to provide gifts for the kids not adopted as we have done in previous years. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused.”
The JCFE accepts letters each year from families asking for Christmas help from the JFCE. Frankie Flowers, despite his arrest, posted on his Facebook page on December 12, 2025, that families were still welcome to submit their requests until December 20, 2025.
As for the halt of donations, several organizations, community members, and government officials who traditionally offer assistance to the JFCE have severed ties following the latest arrest of Frankie Flowers. Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati, Romeo Auto Group, ThinkDIFFERENTLY, and MHA Dutchess are among .
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