How to Adopt a Family for the Holidays

Helping our fellow man is important throughout the year, but seems particularly salient during the holiday season. While you celebrate and give thanks for what you have in your own life, consider aiding those who are less fortunate. There are several options for "adopting" individuals or entire families--on your own or with your family, coworkers, or other organizations of which you are part.

Instructions

1. Consider for which holiday you plan to adopt a family. Begin the next steps at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance of the holiday you choose.

2. Consider whom you might like to adopt for the holiday--an individual, children or an entire family or group. Decide whether you'd like to adopt from a particular pool, such as members of the armed forces or persons with special needs.

3. Contact a local church, school, shelter or similar organization and inquire about adopting a person or family for the holidays.

4. Get the list of suggested gifts from the organization and make note of any requirements, such as leaving items unwrapped, and deadlines.

5. Make a list of items you need, such as clothes, toys and food. Decide whether you will collect money or material goods and, if collecting items, who will be responsible for getting what.

6. Gather clothes, toys, food and other items. Deliver them as directed by the organization you've chosen. Most have you bring everything back to their centralized location, but some may have you deliver directly to families.

Tips & Warnings

• Organize family adoptions through school clubs and staff, church organizations and youth groups, and even corporate businesses.

• Hold fundraisers or seek donations. You may raise enough to adopt more than one family.