The holiday season is often characterized as a season of giving, and for people who want to get more involved this holiday season, there are plenty of opportunities to donate by adopting a family through various programs that provide gifts for Christmas.
“Second Wind’s Adopt-a-Family program pairs families in need within the local elementary school system to organizations, groups, businesses and even individual families who want to help sponsor a local family in need during the holiday season,” Second Wind Dallas Co-Founder Rebekah Newman said. “All families in our program are chosen by school staff who are in a position to know which families within their school are in the most need.”
And unlike some programs that try to fill a child’s or a family’s wish list, Second Wind focuses more on the necessities.
“We ask that each sponsor try to provide as many of the ‘needs’ on a family’s list and if possible some of the ‘wants’ on their list,” Newman said. “‘Needs’ often include winter clothing, food and hygiene products. ‘Wants’ usually include toys and sometimes household items.”
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings speaks during the “Men Against Abuse” rally spotlighting domestic violence in Dallas, Texas, in March 2013.
While some projects like the Angel Tree allow people to know who they are supplying gifts for, Second Wind does not.
“The sponsors won’t get to meet the families they are supporting but they can really get a sense of who they are helping from their list of items,” Newman said. “Sometimes the counselor will also include a little extra information about why they were chosen by the school.”
Another opportunity to adopt a family allows donors to give Christmas gifts to victims of domestic violence.
“We are serving women and children who are escaping domestic violence, and for some, this is the first time they are ever going to be receiving Christmas gifts,” Genesis Women’s Shelter And Support donations coordinator Christina Clark said. “These gifts are for women who have never been asked what they wanted for Christmas before. These are for women and children who deserve to be reminded that they provide value and that they matter. These are women who have taken the most courageous step of all and told him they are leaving.”
Helping a family can have a huge impact.
“Our adopt a family program is so important for the clients we serve! Our donors help by showing these women and their children that they are worthy,” Clark said. “We are serving every family that is seeking our services, whether through counseling, shelter, or transitional housing.”
Helping others is something many organizations on campus are doing this time of year.
“The band is doing Operation Christmas Child,” senior Kate Hawley said. “Different sections are bringing different items such as toys, toiletries, and school supplies. Next week we are having a band social where we are going to put all the items in boxes for the little kids.”
