Adopt-A-Family

Adopt-A-Family Program

Thank you for your interest in the Adopt-a-Family Program! The adoption process begins at the non-profit agency Blue Mountain Heart to Heart.  All families who qualify for the program are screened and live at or below the poverty level. You can adopt a family in five easy steps:

1. Collect Money - First, get a group of people from you residence hall, office, department, club, Greek group, sports team, etc. to commit to adopting a family and ask your group to donate whatever they can towards making your adopted family's holiday season a bit brighter. To decide what size family your group can afford, figure on $10 per family member for a food certificate and roughly $20 dollars per family member for gifts. Therefore, you should budget $150 for a family of 5.
2. Contact us for a Match - After collecting your money and deciding on your family's size, contact Community Service by Friday, December 2rd to receive your family's information sheet and wish lists, 527-5765 or communityservice@whitman.edu.
3. Go Shopping - Once you have your information sheet, you can purchase your grocery store gift certificate. We really like Super 1 and Grocery Outlet on 9th Street, but you can pick any grocery store in town. Put the certificate in an unsealed envelope and clearly print your family's number on the outside. Place the envelope in the the Gift Cards collection manila envelope at the drop-off site. Shop for the other gifts at stores you think are appropriate for you family. If you get stuck for ideas, remember gift certificates are great for adults and teenagers. Also, you can attach gift receipts to items you are unsure about in case the family needs to exchange them.
4. Label Gifts - Put gifts for each family member in his/her own plastic grocery bag and clearly label the bag with the recipient's first name and the family's number. Please do not tie the bag closed too tightly since we'll need to take a peek! Put the bags together in large boxes or garbage bags with the family's number clearly marked on the outside. This ensures they receive everything you have purchased and makes delivery much easier. Please do not wrap gifts before delievering them. You may include gift bags or wrapping paper if you'd like. All items will be checked for appropriateness by the Community Service staff. The gifts will be wrapped by volunteers December 13, 14, 15, & 16. You are welcome to come in to help wrap gifts once they have been checked.
5. Deliver Gifts - Drop off bags and boxes to the Health Center 24/7 Monday, December 5th - Friday, December 9th. The final drop-off date is Friday, December 9th at 5PM.  

Thank you again for lending your support to the families of Walla Walla!  Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.