You can call Montgomery County Health and Human Services. They will get you in touch with a social worker who will match you with a family. You deliver the gifts to HHS office, not the family directly.

OP, my suggestion is to contact a school social worker or someone similar on the front lines of real, immediate help. Our local law enforcement also has a shop for a tot Christmas Program. Less potential of fraud. Sorry to say but there are some families who end up being the recipients of multiple charitable events and programs...problematic when most programs have limits on how many families can be helped.

The Children's Law Center has an adopt-a-family program.

12:17 PP so when I explain how this isn't helpful and just about unworkable and instead explain and create my own wish list directly from clients, there is silence. What my charity would really like would be grocery store gift cards. That is not as much fun, I know. Everyone wants the cutesy, make work activities.

I am affiliated with a small charity. We get requests from local churches for lists of families to do Thanksgiving Dinner in a basket. It's progressively more difficult every year. We're thinking of eliminating the program.

Our clients are living in small homes or shared apartments. They are unfamiliar with turkey or more likely avoid pork products due to religious reasons. They are simply not sitting around eating an idealized version of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Most lack furniture, which we also provide.

But, some churches insist that an oversized basket filled with a huge bag of croutons, canned green beans, instant mashed potatoes, canned ham, pie filling and a frozen turkey will be a blessing and can't understand why we struggle to identify even 6 families who might be able to use and mildly appreciate such a gift.

The YMCA does this too...

You could call up probably any church in your neighborhood and odds are they will have an adopt a family/child or giving tree program and would be happy to have you help. You wouldn't need to attend service or be a member, most likely you would just be dropping off your purchases to the church for distribution.

OP, a word of caution. Learn from the extreme embarrassment I suffered following an angry tirade I received while trying to do good by heading up my office "Adopt a family" program.

Many people object to use of the word "adopt" to mean anything other than adoption of a child. They are offended by "Adopt a Road," "Adopt a Family," and even saying that you "adopted" your family pet.

https://creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/debate-over-adopt-a-programs/

We "adopt" a couple of kids for the Holidays through Central Union Mission in DC. This is a Christian Organization but does a lot to serve the DC community. We request kids with similar ages to my kids and I take my kids to Target to pick out gifts for their sponsored child (even though it would be easier to order things through Amazon). You also purchase winter coat. My kids really get into it and love giving to their "Christmas Kids."

https://www.missiondc.org/get-involved/events/operation-christmas-miracle-2-2/

A woman that lives in my neighborhood works for this program
https://www.dss.virginia.gov/fmf/support.html

It is for young adults that have aged out of foster care in helping them get established.
She has posted in our neighborhood facebook group about a holiday program where people can sponsor one of the young adults for the holidays with gifts from a wish list.

Maybe that would be something you are interested in? There is contact info at the bottom of the page I linked.

I also had a hard time finding a charity where I could "adopt a family". Or even a giving tree. Last year I some how found Britepaths. If you're around Fairfax, check them out. They give you some details on the family and then you buy gifts for the kids, household items for the family, and food for their holiday meal. Everything we purchased was delivered to the school where the kids went. The teachers who received our donation were very thankful. I probably enjoyed the process more than my kids, but I did involve them in the shopping.

Anonymous wrote:Most churches will do this or at least do a giving tree.

Keep in mind, this isnt like a hallmark movie where you stand on the family's doorstep on Thanksgiving (or on Christmas) holding a gigantic basket of household food and essentials patting yourself on the back for doing a good deed.

Your 4 yr old isnt going to have that visual you think she'll have just bc you're collecting a few canned goods.

This seems like a total misread of both the OP and the way these adopt-a-family programs work.

I think they are usually organized by schools, churches, nonprofits, etc. If you call a charity you like (House of Ruth in Maryland, for example) they might be able to get you in the mix.

And to be fair, I don't think OP was envisioning her child seeing the family get the gifts. I think she was envisioning taking her child shopping with her and explaining giving, etc.

Most churches will do this or at least do a giving tree.

Keep in mind, this isnt like a hallmark movie where you stand on the family's doorstep on Thanksgiving (or on Christmas) holding a gigantic basket of household food and essentials patting yourself on the back for doing a good deed.

Your 4 yr old isnt going to have that visual you think she'll have just bc you're collecting a few canned goods.

I tried googling for this, but it was more difficult than I imagined. Anyone do an "adopt a family" type thing for the holidays? Could you tell me the name of the charity please? I'm trying to get my 4 year old to see outside herself a little. Thanks.