Adopt-A-Family

And other ways to give during the holidays
In Rochester, NY

Thanks to the following suggestions sent in by readers!

YWCA

Each year, the YWCA pairs donors seeking to brighten the holidays of those in need with the women and their children participating in our Housing or Young Parents Support Services programs. With approximately 200 families eligible for “adoption” each year, the need is tremendous. To participate in the program, simply decide how many people you would like to “adopt,” then contact the YWCA by calling 368-2260 or emailing pfortune@ywcarochester.org.

In November, we will provide you with a list of family members, including information such as ages, genders and gift wishes (although common items are warm clothing and educational toys if you’d like an early start on your shopping). We ask adopters to purchase one to three gifts for each person in their adopted family – typically a mom and one or two children. We ask that items not be wrapped -- gift bags are preferred and we request all items be dropped off at the YWCA by December 15th clearly marked with their family’s information.

Food baskets or gift cards for Wegmans, Wal-Mart, and Tops are also always welcome. (Please no perishable food, as we have limited cold storage.) Diapers are also always in need.

A perfect project for school groups, the YWCA also holds a Shoebox Drive during the holidays to provide personal care items for the women we serve, particularly for the homeless women and children in our Emergency Housing program. To participate, simply collect items from the list below, place in a shoebox, wrap the shoebox and lid separately and secure the lid with a rubber band. If you’d prefer not to wrap the box, that is fine – near the holidays we wrap the unwrapped boxes. Please drop filled shoeboxes off at the YWCA by December 15th. Sample Shoebox Items: Hand / body lotion; Shampoo, conditioner; Soap, deodorant; Toothpaste, toothbrush; Brushes, combs; Women’s razors; Washcloths; Socks; Mittens, hats, scarves; Perfume, nail polish; Pocket calendars; Gift certificates (Please, no mouthwashes or medicines like Tylenol, etc.).

Have a question not answered above? Please call 368-2260 or email pfortune@ywcarochester.org.

St. Joseph's Villa

St. Joseph's Villa (Caring for Kids in Crisis), whose main campus is located at 3300 Dewey Ave in Rochester, has a program called St. Joseph's Holiday Helpers. You can: Give a cash donation, and they will do the shopping; Sponsor a child or residence; Purchase a gift for a specific child or residence or from a general wish list; Provide food, tree and gifts for a needy family of a Villa child. Please click the link for the contact information, or call 585-865-1550 ext. 284.

Hillside Children's Center

Hillside children's center has a Special Santa program every year that helps children and their families with gifts and food gift certificates.

Ronald McDonald House

I am a KOA reader and am also employed at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester. We have a "Holiday House" program where we send you a "Ronald McDdonald" House" which has (10) cut out windows and doors. Behind each window is a gift that our families and/or the Ronald McDonald House can use. No gift exceeds $20. For more information, you may contact Kim Palumbo, at 442-5437, ext. 2011.

Irondequoit Community Cupboard

Irondequoit Community Cupboard will be distributing Thanksgiving baskets on November 22, 2008 from 9AM to 12PM. Thanksgiving deadline for signups to donate is November 11, 2008. Deadline for Christmas signups (including gifts) is December 1, 2008. If you are signing up for food only the deadline is December 8, 2008. If you are interested in sponsoring a family or making a holiday donation you can call 336-9107 or email debbieevans@rochester.rr.com. All items for Christmas must be delivered to us by December 13, 2008. They will be distributing Christmas baskets on December 17th and 18th from 4PM to 8PM. You can check out our website for more information regarding this at www.irondequoitcommunitycupboard.org.

Society for the Protection and Care of Children

One not-for-profit agency that my MOMS Club of Irondequoit has donated to and have done a fundraiser for is SPCC - the Society for the Protection and Care for Children. The agency works with children and families that are in the most of need and dealing with domestic abuse. The holidays are toughest for these families as many cannot afford gifts, and the children ask for so little. Each year, they sponsor a Teddy Bear Project, in which SPCC will give you a teddy bear that describes a child and his/her wish list for you to choose from. You may choose one or more items from their list. The suggested gifts cost are usually less than $25.00. You can sponsor an entire family; in those cases, they seek donors interested in creating a holiday for an entire family. (Many times, groups of people join together to sponsor a family.) To help or for more information, call 585-325-6101, ext. 0.

Bethany House of Rochester

Bethany House is a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality serving homeless women and children. We sponsor a family every year. Donna Ecker is the person to speak with. Contact number is 585-454-4197.

Dimitri House

Dimitri House has an Adopt-a-family program for Christmas. You can request the size of the family that you will adopt. The parameters are that you purchase (at least) one gift per child and groceries for the family's holiday dinner. You can contact the family ahead of time to determine what they need/like for the dinner and gifts, sizes, food allergies, etc. You also have the option of delivering these items to the family. The contact phone number for Dimitri House is 325-1796.

Spiritus Christi Church

Spiritus Christi Church does adopt-a-family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Phone is 585-325-1180.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a place that you can give shoe boxes filled with gifts and drop them off to certain locations and they are wrapped and delivered all across the globe...maybe they know of families in need if someone is looking for a specific family. The Mom's Club used to do this, but the place where we went that was doing this no longer organizes it. The web site is www.samaritanspurse.org.

Additional Advice

Community Wishbook: Here's another source for your adopt-a-family page: http://www.communitywishbook.com. It doesn't have adopt-a-family programs, per se, but it does list the needs and wishes of a host of community organizations, so people can select agencies that are important to them and design their own holiday drive/gift baskets/whatever. It's a nice way to help some of the lesser-known groups.

Every church just about has a Giving Tree of one sort or another. Malls have them, also. There are "ornaments" you take off the trees that have Holiday Wishes on them for certain families and/or individuals. My church gets families from the local Department of Social Services. Almost all the charitable organizations including the Rotary and Red Cross have one variation or another of a program where by one can "adopt" a family or an individual. A lot of this will be publicized right have Thanksgiving.

***********

Note from editor: Please send any new ideas to suggestions@kidsoutandabout.com. I will do my best to put them up promptly.

Thank you!