How to secret santa a family at christmastime

[mommy2emily]

I would like to try to be a secret santa this year for a family in need. How do I go about finding someone who needs help. I belong to a church do I ask them or does anyone have any experience?

 

[mom2val]

Are you familiar with Angel Trees? You know where they will say 10 year old girl and list clothing sizes and a few toys wished for? Our church does an Angel tree where you can pick kids. Also the local malls all have trees with Angels on them. DD's school even has one where students are the Angels. It's not a whole family but there are lots of people in need.

 

[3goofyboys]

Every Christmas my family gets together and provides one family with groceries for a month, including christmas dinner and christmas gifts. We've asked at my church for a family in need. Sometimes it's a member of the congregation and sometimes it's a local family who asked the church for help. We've also done a couple of families in a different town. In that case, we asked the local police department for the name of a family. We haven't gone that route in a while, so new privacy laws may prevent them from sharing a name with you now. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[sk!mom]

My family has been doing this for several years. In the beginning, we tried various agencies to find a family but what has worked the best is contacting an Elementary counselor for a recommendation. She will contact a family that she knows to be in need and get permission to give out their info. I then contact the parent for sizes and wishes for the children. It's been a blessing to our family and very good for our children.

 

[amberlynnhawkins]

You could also try calling the local Department of Human Resources (DHR). In the past, ours had had lists of families in need around the holidays.

 

[Cdn Gal]

My dh and I are both teachers. We noticed one year that a family in my class was going through a difficult time.(both parents had cancer) The parents would never ask for any assistance because of pride. I got our staff to help out with gifts for the family. We delivered Christamas Eve at 11:30pm, we knocked on the door, dropped off the gifts and ran quickly away. When the kids came back after the break and we asked them how Christmas was, they listed off everything that we gave them. If we hadn't intervened they wouldn't have had anything at Christmas. After the first year it got us thinking how many other families struggle who wouldn't ask for help. So every year for the past 6 years we gather names from teachers on staff and put together packages for the kids that we teach. We don't let anyone know, we deliver Christmas Eve, and it is all annonymous. That is the most important part. I don't want anyone to know or people to feel indebted. Plus, on a selfish note, my dh and I get so much out of it. We love the delivery, and making sure that the families get the parcels. Kids will come back and talk about the fact that Santa left gifts for them on the porch. If I were you I would contact your local school. I wish you all the best!

 

[v.t.]

I agree with PP. We always go through the school counselors. They often know of families that are in need, but do not ask for help from various agencies. We always like to help a family that has kids close to our kids age so our children can help pick out the items.

 

[Belle5]

My dh and I are both teachers. We noticed one year that a family in my class was going through a difficult time.(both parents had cancer) The parents would never ask for any assistance because of pride. I got our staff to help out with gifts for the family. We delivered Christamas Eve at 11:30pm, we knocked on the door, dropped off the gifts and ran quickly away. When the kids came back after the break and we asked them how Christmas was, they listed off everything that we gave them. If we hadn't intervened they wouldn't have had anything at Christmas. After the first year it got us thinking how many other families struggle who wouldn't ask for help. So every year for the past 6 years we gather names from teachers on staff and put together packages for the kids that we teach. We don't let anyone know, we deliver Christmas Eve, and it is all annonymous. That is the most important part. I don't want anyone to know or people to feel indebted. Plus, on a selfish note, my dh and I get so much out of it. We love the delivery, and making sure that the families get the parcels. Kids will come back and talk about the fact that Santa left gifts for them on the porch. If I were you I would contact your local school. I wish you all the best!

We have done this exact thing--ring and run--and it is SOOO much fun!!!

 

[Minnie]

Our "ladies" group at work has been doing this ever since our plant opened - a way to give back for the opportunities we've been given

We've had the best success with contacting the local schools. They are very aware of families in need and might be able to assist.

 

[smileycrissy]

OP - where are you from?

The reason I ask is because I used to live in NYC. Two years ago I did the Letters to Santa program thru the Post Office. I think they forward most of the 'Letters to Santa' to the main PO in NYC, you bascially got to skim thru the letters and select which kids you wanted to help. I found this little blurb from the USPS website, so maybe you can go speak to the postmaster for your local post office and ask about this. Perhaps then you can turn it into a big program thru your church where others will participate.

Helping Santa Help Those in Need

While Santa receives most letters addressed to him at the North Pole, some are made available to organizations and individuals who want help those in need. Many Santa letters will be answered by a variety of Santa's helpers — charitable organizations, employees of local Post Offices and individual volunteers who want to help make children's holiday wishes come true. Contact your local Postmaster to find out how and where you can participate.

 

[ratlenhum]

I would call the social worker at your local school.

Ours sets up lists for the families in need in our area and sends home flyers. I'm sure there is a family you can help that the school would know about.

 

[Darcy03231]

Other places to try are a local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, abused women's shelter, teen mother shelter or children's home. Our community has all of these and each year has a list of names that need help.

 

[mommy2emily]

Thanks everyone for all of the ideas.
I am in South Jersey so I will check with the local Post office and also my daughter's school.

I always do multiple tags off of the tree at my church but I thought this year might be nice to help a family, maybe a food basket and at least a gift for every member or gift card for parents.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

The Salvation Army would also be able to provide names of families in need.

the other forgotten group of people is seniors in nursing homes or hospitals that have no family or friends. At work we have been in touch with seniors residences and they have provided us names and been able to find out what the people need. We were very specific as to who we would give to as far as seniors that were truly alone. Would not have any family or friends to go to visit on Christmas day and no one would be visiting them. Our other stipulation was that the gifts be delivered on Christmas day. I did deliver the gifts one year and it was a wonderful experience.

It is nice to remember seniors when kids are always looked after so well.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

If I were you I would contact your local school.

I loved your story and this is great place to start.

My husbands office does something like this every year. One year my DD came home upset that she overheard someone in her school saying that they wouldn't be celebrating Christmas this year due to a divorce and other problems. I had no idea how bad it really was. They were sleeping on the floor.

I decided to call the mom and ask her if we could play santa for her children for Christmas and at first she was shocked, but she opened up to me and was so grateful. She gave me a list of things her children would like, and things that they NEEDED. These children were all in high school.

DH's employees all chipped in, and I went to different places around town asking for donations and I was so surprised by how much help I got for those children. We ended up with beds & bedding for each of them, including the mother. We had a grocery store donate 200.00 worth of groceries, restaurants donated gift cards for meals there. It was amazing. I added everything up and we donated about 3000.00 worth if items for that family.

It felt good to deliver everything to them, but the best thing came later when I found out that the boy who my DD heard talking, turned his life around and now wants to be a preacher. He said that he saw first hand how helping others can effect your life so much, he wants to reach out and help others.

Anyway, I do think that going to the schools in your area is a great way to find children in need.

 

[terri01p]

 

[cydswipe]

We have decided to help out a family that lost their home when their house flooded. Parents and 3 young girls have lived w/ grandparents since July. The FEMA check has come through, they have closed on a different house.

My parents, brother, and 3 sisters family, and myself are going to help the family out with Christmas. This is someone my sister kind of knows (in a very small town). When approached, the mom started sobbing. They need the help and graciously accepted it.

Each child is going to circle some things in a JC Penny's catolog and initial it. We are going to pool our money to buy a small chest freezer and try to fill it.
Depending on how much is left, we may buy an appliance.

I have given up on Toys for Tots and the angel tree. We are surrounded by many people who double dip in charities like this, and of course we are supporting by paying our taxes. We decided giving our $ and gifts DIRECTLY to the family means a lot to us. We see the need, they acknowlegde and accept the help, and we deliver! )

I know, I know, I've become jaded and overjudgemental in many areas, especially on the welfare system. I like the idea of talking to the teachers, social worker, and of course, the elderly in the nursing home.

Best of luck to you spreading your love and cheer. It is a great season to share.

 

[SeansMom]

The Salvation Army would also be able to provide names of families in need.

the other forgotten group of people is seniors in nursing homes or hospitals that have no family or friends. At work we have been in touch with seniors residences and they have provided us names and been able to find out what the people need. We were very specific as to who we would give to as far as seniors that were truly alone. Would not have any family or friends to go to visit on Christmas day and no one would be visiting them. Our other stipulation was that the gifts be delivered on Christmas day. I did deliver the gifts one year and it was a wonderful experience.

It is nice to remember seniors when kids are always looked after so well.

Fabulous idea! I love buying for kids, but this year I think I'll use your idea instead. I can't imagine how lonely it would be to be sitting in a nursing home with nobody on Christmas day.

 

[noahdove]

I too have done this several times, and more times than not, the family I took had other help!!!! I worked in an elementary school for years and yes, there are families that need much help. I only, sorry to say, like to help if the parents truly have health conditions preventing them from working or the mom and children are a safe haven home. It's sad how many people work the system and then we get stung..God bless you and your hope to find a needy family. For a few years we did the elderly that needed help in so many ways. I even paid for fuel oil to be delivered and left money on account for the women..the small grocery store here delivered not only the groceries we bought but also the gifts..secret Santa all the way

 

[At World's End]

The Salvation Army would also be able to provide names of families in need.

the other forgotten group of people is seniors in nursing homes or hospitals that have no family or friends. At work we have been in touch with seniors residences and they have provided us names and been able to find out what the people need. We were very specific as to who we would give to as far as seniors that were truly alone. Would not have any family or friends to go to visit on Christmas day and no one would be visiting them. Our other stipulation was that the gifts be delivered on Christmas day. I did deliver the gifts one year and it was a wonderful experience.

It is nice to remember seniors when kids are always looked after so well.

I just wanted to thank you for mentioning seniors. I used to work in a nursing home, and it can be a very hard time for many of the residents who have no loved ones nearby. The things they ask for are usually so basic - new socks, a cozy blanket, lotion. We have a group of in-home care providers who sponsor something similar to the Angel Trees, but it's called Santa to a Senior. It's a great way to brighten someone's day.