Adopt A Family

CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW to see the families still in need of sponsorship for this year.  If all families have been adopted, the system will generate a message that "No Families are Found".  Many thanks to all those who have already adopted a family this holiday season! 

If you wanted to adopt a family you can still support Families First and help bring hope to the families we serve!

Once the holiday season is past and we're all settled back to "life as we know it," many of our families are still struggling could use some extra support.

If you would like to help them continue their journey to self-sufficiency beyond the holidays there are a few things you can do now.

• Donate gift cards - to help support families throughout the year. These are often used for birthdays, graduations and other events or milestones.
• Donate MARTA cards or gas cards - to assist parents and get to and from work which helps them maintain steady employment.
• Donate Financially - A financial gift to our general operating fund can help Families First continue to serve children and families whose lives have been affected by adoption, foster care, homelessness and significant life challenges. Click here to donate.
  

And don't forget to check back with us in the spring for our "Adopt A Grad" program which is designed to help our students progress to the next level of their education whether it be heading to high school or moving on to college.

If you have adopted a family and have questions please direct them to volunteer@familiesfirst.org and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you get your families?

All families who apply for assistance through Families First’s Adopt-A-Family program are enrolled in one of our programs throughout the metro-Atlanta community and are living at or below the poverty level.  The program in which they participate is included on the Adopt-A-Family website.  Many of the families who seek our services are suffering economically, and we believe it is important, especially for the children, that they are able to celebrate the holidays like everyone else.

Can we meet the family we’ve sponsored?

As an agency that serves families with a diverse array of issues, it is our responsibility by law to protect the identity of the families we serve.  Therefore, in the interest of client and donor confidentiality, we do not allow sponsors to meet our families.   This is in the best interest of the family’s integrity as well, as many of them are ashamed or embarrassed by the fact that they require assistance.

Should we wrap the gifts?

We do not require that you wrap the gifts, but if you are so inclined, we are happy to receive gifts wrapped. Just make sure the recipient’s name and family number is clearly written on the package.

Can we get the clothing sizes for our family?

The clothing sizes for each family member will be included in the email that is sent to you immediately after you make your selection to sponsor your families.  If you sponsor more than one family, the information for each family will be on a spreadsheet attached to that confirmation email.

How much should we get for our family?

For Thanksgiving, a $50-$100 gift card is adequate for most families.  For the December Holidays, we recommend spending $25-$50 per family member, with one or two household items.  If you’d like to adopt a family personally but don’t have that much to spend, we recommend you recruit additional family members, church members or co-workers to join you!  The more the merrier!

Is there a size limit to how much we can bring?

For most families of less than five members, we recommend that their gifts fit into 2 large garbage bags or less.  If your family has requested large items, you may choose to purchase gift cards instead of the item itself.  We will accept larger deliveries, we just prefer that most are of a more manageable size due to space constraints at our delivery location.

Can I just send in gift cards?

You are more than welcome to send us gift cards.  We have new families entering our programs every day who may not make the deadline for applying for assistance this holiday season.  You also have the option of selecting a family on the Adopt A Family website, and then after you enter your sponsor information you can then be directed to our online donation page to make a gift for that specific family.  A gift card will then be purchased by Families First and given to the family you selected.  If you choose to send in gift cards for no family in particular, you can mail them to Families First AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAY (for both Thanksgiving and Christmas).

Can I do a toy or gift drive?

Absolutely!  Many families who are unable to participate in the program still have great need, and we are able to invite them to a “Free Store” a week before the holidays to select from what we have received from organizations that conduct Toy Drives.  If you are interested in Families First being the beneficiary of your organization’s toy or gift drive, please email volunteer@familiesfirst.org and we will send you the details on deadlines and delivery instructions.

Are my Adopt A Family donations tax deductible?

Families First is happy to acknowledge your Adopt A Family donations for tax purposes.  However, current IRS regulations prohibit us from including a monetary value of the donation on our acknowledgement letter.  We will provide a description of your donation on our letter, but in order for you to receive tax credit for your donation you must provide receipts for the items or gift cards you purchase.  These receipts, attached to the acknowledgement letter that we will send to you after the holiday, can be submitted to your tax preparer.  In a nutshell, if you are planning to submit your donation for tax credit, be sure to save your receipts!