Adopt-A-Family

Guidelines & Timeline

1. Make sure to contact your Adopt-A-Family as soon as possible but no later than November 18th. (Remember that they are already stressed and worried about what they are going to do for their children for Christmas, so the sooner you get in contact with them the easier it will be for them to relax and keep their minds on the daily living.)
2. Exampe of gifts for families include (but not limited to, use your discretion): Dishes, silverware, pots & pans, bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows, etc.), bath towels, furniture, lamps, clothing, shoes, uniforms, outerwear, home repairs (judge whether it is a need or just a desire), appliances, refurbished computers (which have helped family members receive GED's, work from home when disabled or ill, children with school work, etc.), vacuum cleaners, food, payment of utility bills, medications (gift certificate to a pharmacy, or you can put money into an account for the family at the FH Pharmacy to help with medications), movie passes (theaters sell books of passes which make great gifts for families that don't get to do much because of their budget), transportation (a car was donated for one family by a person that had an extra vehicle just sitting in their yard not being used). These are all things that have been given to help families in the past but use your imagination to help out in other areas. Get to know the family and their needs.
3. Examples of gifts for children/teenagers (they need love too) include (but not limited to, use your discretion): Bikes, skates, dolls, books, stuffed animals, CDs, Tapes, VHS/DVDs, Game Systems (i.e. Playstation, X Box, Game Cube, GameBoy), toy cars, remote cars, CD/Tape/DVD/Video players, TVs, Radios, basketballs/footballs/soccer balls, basketball hoops. These are just a few examples but remember that even though some people may be asking for some of these things for their kids because the child is ill or physically challenged and not able to spend the time outside playing or the parent may need something for the child to do because they need them to stay inside because they can't be outside with them. Once again, get to know the family and their needs.
4. IMPORTANT: Remember to follow through with the family. Set their minds at ease knowing that they will have a Christmas for their children. Set up a date/time for delivery of gifts and if they need a tree and/or decorations you may want to set up 2 different times. One to deliver the tree and decorations and one to deliver the gifts. There may be some families that may not want you to come to their home (either because they are embarrassed by their living conditions or because they or their spouse are uncomfortable with people coming to their home) respect their wishes.
5. Questions to ask a family is whether or not there are any family members with special needs or allergies (i.e. Diabetic, vegetarian, allergies to: soy, wheat, eggs, dairy, etc.) if buying food for the family. If you don't want to worry about the allergies to food and whether or not someone in the family is diabetic then don't buy them food but give them instead gift certificates to a store (make sure that you include that the certificate is not to be used for Alcoholic beverages or tobacco products) that is close to them. Don't give them gift certificates to one store if that store is not the closest store to them. Remember that there could be a transportation issue for the family.
6. Use etiquette when dealing with the family. Respect their privacy and wishes. Don't force something on them that they don't want.
7. Coordinate the department to gather together the gifts, or money to buy the gifts. Each department can decide how they want to get the gifts together. Some may want to just collect the money and have a shopping trip and other may want to break up into groups and each group will concentrate on one member of the family. Be creative and decide what your department would like to do. Make it fun...think about maybe having a wrapping party for everyone that would like to help wrap the gifts.
8. How much money to spend on the gifts can be determined by your department. Just remember that you are helping a family that is in need of your support. Don't just go out and get a $25 gift certificate Christmas Eve (this has happened to a family that had several children)...Don't be a "Scrooge"...
9. Remember to keep the family's information confidential. Try and put yourself in their shoes and think about what you would or would not want shared with others. Many of these families are proud and it took a lot of courage to ask for help, so leave them with their dignity.
10. Gift Certificates should be from stores that are close by them and appropriate stores (no alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, adult entertainment stores, etc.). I think you get the idea.
11. You don't have to give them everything on their list but use your judgment and look at what your department can afford. Adopt-A-Families are aware that they may not receive all gift items they request. Generally, necessities and gifts for the children/teenagers are considered a priority and then other items are purchased/donated if resources allow. Just remember that a Merry Christmas is something that everyone desires for his or her family.
12. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Stephanie A. Jones at (407) 303-5600 opt.1 then 110-6503 or tie line 110-6503

If you wish to have your department participate in this program please fill out the Department Request Form.

Remember to have fun and enjoy playing Santa Claus. It's the Spirit of Christ that we need to keep in mind as we go about this honor of helping those in desperate situations.