7 ways to adopt a family over the holidays

The holiday season illuminates both abundance and need within communities. While some families celebrate with overflowing tables and gifts, others struggle to provide basics. Holiday family adoption programs bridge this gap, connecting those who want to give with families facing hardship. These programs transform holidays for struggling families while creating profound meaning for donors who seek authentic ways to help.

Understanding holiday family adoption

Holiday family adoption differs from child-focused programs by supporting entire families through difficult times. Rather than providing a single gift to a child, adopters commit to helping a whole household, often including parents, multiple children and sometimes extended family members. This comprehensive approach addresses real family needs: warm clothing for growing children, grocery gift cards for holiday meals, household essentials, age-appropriate toys and sometimes even help with utilities or rent.

Approximately 40 million Americans live below the poverty line, with many more experiencing financial instability. During the holidays, when expenses multiply and expectations soar, these families face painful choices between bills, food and creating joyful memories for children.

1. Connect through established community organizations

The most reliable path to adopting a holiday family runs through vetted community organizations. These established groups carefully screen families, verify needs, protect privacy and coordinate between donors and recipients. Contact local options including United Way chapters, Salvation Army branches, Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, local churches and faith communities, family resource centers, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters.

Call these organizations in October or early November, as many programs fill quickly. Ask about their specific process, how they match donors with families, what information they provide about family needs and deadlines for commitment and delivery.

2. Organize workplace or group adoption

Individual giving creates impact, but collective efforts multiply resources and strengthen community bonds. Propose family adoption to your workplace, faith community, social club or neighborhood association. Group adoption allows for more substantial support and makes participation accessible to those with limited individual budgets.

Designate one person to coordinate communication with the sponsoring organization and collect contributions from participants. Create a clear system for collecting money or specific items, set deadlines to ensure timely delivery and provide regular updates to keep participants engaged.

3. Utilize online platforms and registries

Technology has expanded family adoption accessibility. National and local online platforms connect donors directly with families, often providing detailed wish lists and secure purchasing options. Explore established platforms including Adopt-A-Family, which partners with local agencies, The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program with online components, local Giving Trees hosted by community organizations and regional Facebook groups dedicated to holiday giving.

These platforms typically allow donors to select specific items from family wish lists, purchase them online and either have them shipped directly to the coordinating organization or arrange local pickup.

4. Focus on practical needs beyond toys

While children’s excitement on holiday mornings matters deeply, adopted families often need practical support more than luxury gifts. Balance wish list toys with essential items: winter coats, boots and warm clothing in correct sizes, grocery gift cards for holiday meals and beyond, household supplies like laundry detergent, toilet paper and cleaning products, gas gift cards for families with transportation, and blankets, towels and basic linens.

Don’t forget teenagers, who are often overlooked in holiday giving. Age-appropriate gifts for teens—perhaps gift cards, personal care items or practical items like backpacks—acknowledge their presence in the family unit.

5. Provide gifts that respect dignity

Thoughtful giving honors recipients’ dignity and humanity. Purchase new items rather than used goods whenever possible, wrap gifts attractively just as you would for your own family, include gift tags and holiday cards with warm messages, and respect family preferences regarding religious or cultural considerations.

Avoid treating family adoption as an opportunity to clear out old belongings or donate items you no longer want. These families deserve the same quality and thoughtfulness you’d offer your own loved ones.

6. Extend support beyond the holidays

Holiday assistance matters, but families struggle year-round. Consider extending your impact beyond December by providing gift cards with January dates, asking organizations about ongoing needs or volunteer opportunities, connecting families with year-round resources like food banks, job training or counseling services, and maintaining anonymized support relationships through coordinating organizations if allowed.

Some donors choose to adopt the same family in subsequent years, creating continuity and deeper impact.

7. Involve children in the process

Including children in family adoption creates powerful teaching moments about empathy, gratitude and social responsibility. Age-appropriate involvement might include letting younger children help select and wrap gifts, asking school-age children to contribute allowance money or donate outgrown items in good condition, and involving teenagers in shopping trips or delivery coordination.

Frame participation positively, emphasizing the joy of giving rather than dwelling on others’ misfortune.

The gift of connection

Holiday family adoption transcends transactional charity, creating human connection across socioeconomic boundaries. Adopted families receive not just material goods but the message that their community sees them, values them and wants them to experience joy. Begin today by contacting local organizations, gathering coworkers or friends, or browsing online platforms.