Share JOY This Holiday Season
Get ready for an unforgettable experience by sharing help and hope with a family in our community experiencing a difficult year. The HFS Project Share program uplifts families living in the boundaries of ISD 200 who may be going through financial hardships, a health crisis, housing challenges, loss of a loved one, or other emergencies, by providing holiday gifts for their children (high-school age and younger). Most importantly, families that receive assistance through this program know that they are not walking their journey alone, that the welfare of their family matters, and that they are part of a caring and connected community where all neighbors can thrive.
How Can I Help?
Individuals and groups are invited to adopt families anonymously to provide holiday gifts. As an adopter, you provide:
- Up to three gifts per child listed at a value up to $90
- An option to provide the parent/guardian with a $25 gift card to a local grocery store
- An option to cover the cost of a holiday meal for qualifying families by sharing a $40 gift payable to Hastings Family Service when delivering your gifts
You can also help by encouraging families in our community going through a hardship to sign up to receive Project Share.
Important Dates
- Nov. 11 | Adopt-a-Family link goes live
- Nov. 28 | Option for Saturday gift drop-off at HFS from 10AM to 3PM
- Dec. 1 | Gift drop-off begins at HFS from 9AM to 4PM, M-F
- Dec. 11 | Gift drop-off ends
How Do I Adopt a Family?
Families will be available to adopt beginning Wednesday, Nov. 11 through a link on this webpage. The family listing will include a unique family number, ages/genders of children, and a suggested total gift amount to share JOY with that family. Simply select a family of your choosing and provide your contact information. Within one working day of selecting your family, you will receive a Wish List from HFS with gift ideas, sizes for each child, and important program instructions. The next step is to have fun shopping!
What if No Families are Available?
Continue to check the Adopt-a-Family link frequently through early December!
- Families are being added to the list almost daily as intake appointments for families receiving help are completed. Intake appointments begin Oct. 21 and will run through early December. Keep checking back - you're sure to find your perfect match!
Can I Share More than the Suggested Gift Amount?
Before purchasing extra gifts for the children in your adopted family, please consider adopting another family. We anticipate a greater need than ever this year and would like to extend hope to as many families requesting assistance as possible!
Should the Gifts be Wrapped?
When you receive your family's Wish List, you will see their preference for having gifts wrapped or unwrapped. Please follow this preference! Some parents/guardians prefer to see items and have the JOY of wrapping them or they may have a different way of presenting the gifts to their children. Adopters are welcome to include wrapping paper and tape with an unwrapped gift request. Some parents/guardians may prefer gifts to be holiday wrapped and ready.
Whether wrapped or unwrapped, each gift must be labeled clearly with:
- Family number
- Child's age
- Child's gender
Pack all gifts together in large boxes/bags also marked with the family number.
When are Gifts Due to HFS?
Gift drop-off is Nov. 28 (Sat, 10AM-3PM) and Dec. 1 through Dec. 11 (M-F, 9am-4PM). All gifts must be dropped off by Friday, Dec. 11. Please deliver to the Hastings Family Service Donation Center at 301 Second Street East in Hastings. You must have your family completed with all gifts for drop-off; we cannot accept a partial drop-off.
Community Partners Kit
Help us spread JOY within our community by sharing any of the below messaging.
