Each year there are plenty of families in need of a little extra help during the holidays. And each year, everyday people step up to help out and make a difference.
In 2009, Costa Mesa-based Share Our Selves’ Adopt a Family program adopted 1,755 families (6,438 children and 3,376 adults) from 72 participating schools. Over 2,900 volunteer hours were performed, 584 donors adopted families and more than 25 organizations and businesses held toy and food drives to collect the necessary resources.
Marking its 41st year of adopting families out for the holidays, this year’s program volunteers are working hard to connect donors with more than 1,600 families recommended by Costa Mesa and Santa Ana schools.
Family names and information are given to SOS by individual schools, counselors or principals. The schools also provide a wish list for each member of the family. Donor forms are filled out by donors so that SOS volunteers can set up matches based on criteria donors check off. Donors then drop off gifts at the OC Fair & Event Center, December 13-15, 2010; on December 16, school representatives pick up the gifts for families. The OC Fair donates the space to support the event.
Donors can sign up to Adopt a Family through December 13 by downloading the donor form at shareourselves.org and faxing it to 949.515.5804, or by calling 949.270.2100. If donating and adopting a family are not options, you can also sign up to be a volunteer to help with the event.
