It may have looked like a child's birthday party inside the Saratoga Library Community Room on March 29, with colorful balloons, piles of packages and children running here and there, but it was more like an overdue welcome-home celebration.

It's been more than six months since Jon and Marilyn Anacker of San Jose returned from Russia with their newly adopted children, but residents say they are still touched by the family's generosity.

At the celebration organized by Los Gatans Cathy Gillum, Bobbie Holly and Marcia Green, friends and even those who only knew of the family through word of mouth gathered inside the community room for an afternoon of English tea and pastries. It was a social event, but it was also a way for many to personally thank the Anackers for opening their hearts and home to Nikolai, 14, Irena, 12, Leana, 11, Sergei, 10, and Marina, 9—all from the same family in Russia.

"It's the least we could do to show support for the family," says Gillum, one of Marilyn's hiking buddies. "Taking these kids in was such a selfless thing they did. And it's so nice to see not only how sincerely happy the kids are, but also how happy the parents are to have the kids."

But the event wasn't all about eating and mingling; it was about giving back. Since the family now has extra mouths to feed, guests say they felt compelled to lend a hand. Some showered the Anackers with bags of donated clothing for the children, while others offered financial assistance by means of gift certificates to Safeway, Costco, Target and clothing stores.

Several organizations pitched in as well, including the Newcomers Alumni of Saratoga, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, which gave two $50 gift certificates to Costco, and the Traveling Tennis Team, which wrote a check for $200. One member of the team offered free dental care for the five children and another offered free haircuts.

"This is certainly unexpected," says Jon, now a father of seven.

Jon says that since the adoption, the family has had to rethink its spending situation. While Marilyn takes care of all food expenses, Jon covers the rest, which includes water, electricity and gas.

"The water bill has gone up 50 to 60 percent, and the PG&E bill has almost doubled," he says.

Monte Sereno resident Merlene Bottomley says she understands what it's like to have to care for a large group of kids. The grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of three bought the family a $200 gift certificate to Safeway.

"These gifts are like gold to the parents," she says. "They're going to need a lot of help from the community. They can't do this alone."