Adopt-A-Family
Make the Holidays Magical for Local Families in Need
Your help is needed to provide gifts and groceries to more than 550 families – including 2,000 children and teens – in need this holiday season. This is the largest total in the program’s history with even more families on our extensive waitlist. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Here's how you can help:
Make a Donation and Let Our Elves Shop For You!
Adopt A Family - November 1, 2025 to December 5th, 2025
Or shop our AMAZON WISHLIST for special requests of items we still need in 2024! If we get anything from our Amazon Wishlist after the donation center closes - we will still get the gifts to the families that need them!
831-457-9834
DONATION CENTER
EMAIL US
THANK YOU TO OUR ADOPT A FAMILY SPONSORS!
ADOPT A FAMILY IN NEED
- ADOPT A FAMILY ONLINE - November 1 - December 5, 2025
- Fill out this form and we'll assign you a family to adopt
- Or call us at (831)457-9834
- View our wish list for Individual Items
Each year the Volunteer Center partners with 32 local non-profits and social service agencies to meet the needs of local families struggling to make ends meet. Our partners provide us with a short bio about each family and a list of the items that each family member requests.
All of these families are struggling with special circumstances such as homelessness, displaced by natural disasters or floods, parents in recovery, parents or children with disabilities, victims of violent crime, families facing serious health challenges, or other hardships.
Adopt-a-Family Volunteers then set to work connecting families with donors who shop for them for the holidays. Requests include basic necessities like sheets, towels, or shoes along with special gift requests for the children.
Adopters provide families with holiday packages that include food gift certificates, clothing items, a gift for each child, and household items like blankets, towels, or sheets. Adopters will deliver these items to our warehouse during the designated drop-off days in December.
If you'd like to be matched with a family that you can meet and deliver your gifts directly to them, call us at (831)457-9834 or email [email protected]
MAKE A MONETARY DONATION
And let the Volunteer Elves do the shopping for you!
Cash donations ensure that families receive the items needed and food gift cards to provide a nutritious holiday meal for the family. Monetary gifts are also a wonderful way to support this program if you are not sure about adopting an entire family. No gift is too small - and your donations will be used to fill in the wishlists, purchase grocery store gift cards, and ensure every child has their wishlist fulfilled.
Donations can be made online or mailed to our office.
Donate to adopt a family today!
GIVE A GIFT WITH WISHING STARS
In addition to families, the Adopt-a-Family program fulfills holiday wish list items for hundreds of local children in need. These children may be in foster care, shelters, or part of other local social service programs. Many are teens and pre-teens who, sadly, are often overlooked by other holiday-giving programs.
We make it easy for you to purchase individual gifts for kids and teens:
Buy items from our WISHLIST and drop off your gifts at a participating Star Business.
Or shop our online TARGET REGISTRY, and your gift will ship directly to us.
This is a great option for gifting parties - turn your white elephant event into an Adopt-a-Family Wishing Party!
VOLUNTEER AND SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER
This project is only possible because of the volunteers who give their time each year to wrap gifts, answer phone lines, maintain our database, and shop for families.
Volunteer on your own or with family, friends, and colleagues!
Sign up to Volunteer with Adopt A Family
or Join our planning committee to support the next year's efforts.
WHERE DO I DROP OFF MY PACKAGES?
Saturday, December 7th - Tuesday, December 10th from 10am - 6pm
at the Capitola Mall
View the Donation Center Information Page
for exact address and directions
