Imagine being a single mother raising three children, struggling to make ends meet and just hoping that you'll be able to provide a memorable Christmas for your children. Imagine being a senior citizen, alone with no family nearby, using your little income to pay for rent, utilities and medication, but wishing you could afford to feel the warmth of the holidays. Imagine being a father who is picking up the pieces after losing your job with nothing to spare for your family during the holiday season.

Don Bosco's Holiday Friends program mobilizes donors throughout the city who are looking for a way to give back during the holidays to adopt families in need. Clients apply for the Holiday Friends program and are screened for genuine need. Donors can then choose the family they wish to adopt, and can either deliver the gifts directly to the family or deliver gifts to Don Bosco for the families to pick-up. A $20 donation per family member adopted is requested to help the Family Support Center provide services to the families throughout the year.

This program runs from October - December each year. To adopt a family for the holidays, simply:

1. Contact the Holiday Friends Hotline at 816-691-2906 to choose the size of family you would like to adopt.
2. Make your $20 per family member adopted donation.
3. You will then receive a packet with information about your family, including the delivery address and the family's gift wants and needs.
4. Decide whether you would like to deliver gifts directly to the family or deliver the gifts to Don Bosco.

For more information about Holiday Friends, please download the Holiday Friends flyer, the Holiday Friends postcard or send our staff a message through the website.