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Hi LA friends! If you're looking for a socially distanced way to help your community during the holidays, my friend told me about LA County's adopt-a-family program. You can apply to be a sponsor (and select what size family you're able to help). You can choose...
whether to be anonymous or to contact your family directly (I'm texting! It's easy!) to see if they need clothes or groceries or toys or something else, and you can choose whether you want to drop off gifts or meet somewhere or ship directly to them (this is what I'm doing)...
Your gifts will likely be the only ones they receive this year, and there are more than a thousand families who need help, and not nearly enough sponsors. You can apply here: https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/community/volunteer.html. After I applied, I got a family assignment within 12 hours.
My adopted family is asking for blankets, shoes, warm clothing, towels. I'm excited to find toys for the kids, too, because toy shopping is legit fun. I'm going to paste some info from the FAQ that DPSS sent me after I applied:
Q: How can I specify the area the family I sponsor resides in and the family size?
A: You can specify and write in any preferences of a family on the Adopt-A-Family application.
Although we cannot guarantee, we will do our best to match your preferences.
A: You can specify and write in any preferences of a family on the Adopt-A-Family application.
Although we cannot guarantee, we will do our best to match your preferences.
Q: How is the participant notified of the sponsorship?
A: It is the responsibility of the Sponsor to contact the family and notify them of the sponsorship
prior to arranging a delivery or drop off.
A: It is the responsibility of the Sponsor to contact the family and notify them of the sponsorship
prior to arranging a delivery or drop off.
Q: What if I wish to remain anonymous?
A: If you decide you would like to be an anonymous donor, our office will notify the family you
have been matched with be the liaison between you and them. You can ship the items from
Amazon anonymously.
A: If you decide you would like to be an anonymous donor, our office will notify the family you
have been matched with be the liaison between you and them. You can ship the items from
Amazon anonymously.
Q: How much is it to sponsor a family?
A: We recommend gift(s) be valued at $100-$150 per family member. Please keep
in mind, these may be the only gifts the family receives this season.
A: We recommend gift(s) be valued at $100-$150 per family member. Please keep
in mind, these may be the only gifts the family receives this season.
Q: How do I give the family their gifts?
A: Due to COVID-19, sponsors will need to coordinate the delivery of gifts via mail or in person to
their matched family(ies).
A: Due to COVID-19, sponsors will need to coordinate the delivery of gifts via mail or in person to
their matched family(ies).
There are so many ways to give, and considering how rough this year has been on so many people, this is a great way to add some more positivity and generosity and selflessness to our lives. Happy holidays!
