Large families of 8-12 people are especially hard to adopt. It is rewarding to organize a group from your workplace, neighborhood or friends to adopt a large family. 

Please click here for the volunteer form. 

Thank you for adopting a needy family this Christmas. Following is some information that may be useful:

What food should I include for my family? 

Suggested items for the Christmas dinner include: Frozen turkey, OR canned ham, potatoes/yams, fruit cocktail, cranberry sauce, canned sauerkraut, stuffing, onions, celery, canned fruit and vegetables, cookies, candy canes, coffee/tea, tin foil pan for turkey, margarine, salt and pepper.

It is nice to add a bag of extra items - children who normally receive breakfast and lunch at school are home for a week, and Christmas is at the end of the month, when money is generally tight. Suggested extra items include: cereal, peanut butter and jelly, soup, rice, tuna, mayo, juice, raisins, sugar and spices, macaroni and tomato sauce, toothbrushes and /toothpaste, paper goods, plastic wraps and bags, baby food, cleaning supplies, a new potholder or dish towel - anything you think would help! 

Each person should have something new even if it is a small item. Gently used toys, books, clothes and gifts are acceptable. Of course all gently used items should be clean and in good condition. Books are wonderful at any age! Making a stocking is fun - you can go to the dollar store and fill it with fun small items.

BABIES - Blanket sleepers, diapers, onesies, board books, toy, baby shampoo and diaper supplies. 

BOYS & GIRLS - gloves, mittens, knit hats, scarves, socks, sweatshirts, sweatpants, paper, crayons, markers, Nerf balls, basketball, football, toy cars, dolls. Please try not to buy things that require batteries unless you supply those as well. 

TEENS - This age can be hard to buy for even when you know the person! Ideas for teens include toiletries, bath towel, tote bag, picture frame, journal or diary, pens and markers, fun socks, gym bag, basketball, alarm clock, chess or backgammon, deck of cards. 

WOMEN – hand lotion, sweatshirts, sweatpants, sweaters, scarves, gloves, slippers, umbrella, bath towel.

MEN - shirt, sweatshirt, gloves, hat, flashlight, umbrella.

ELDERLY – bathrobes and slippers, warm cardigans, knit hats, lap blankets, crossword or word search books

To make your dollar go further, you may want to consider shopping at food warehouses, Target, Wal-Mart and the Dollar Tree.

We offer the following guidelines to help make the distribution process more manageable:

• Please use sturdy cardboard boxes to pack the food and gifts. If it is raining, please place your boxes inside large trash bags to protect them from the weather.

• Do not over pack the boxes. Please pack so that each box can be picked up by one person.

• Do not use wrapping paper on the outside of the cardboard boxes. Although it looks nice at your home, it gets torn easily. You are encouraged to wrap the gifts that are placed inside the cardboard boxes.

• Unless otherwise noted, you are responsible for providing FOOD AND GIFTS for your family.

• Group all perishable food together and mark PERISHABLE, so that they get immediate attention. No frozen goods except turkeys or other meat should be included in your package.

• When making up a food basket, it should contain food for a complete family Christmas dinner, along with any extras you care to add. Remember, this is the end of the month, when people run out of food, please be as generous as you can. You are not expected to cook the food.
  
• Please bring your boxes to the Cathedral Upper parking lot on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 10:00am. No early or late drop-offs can be accommodated. If you should miss the drop-off at the school parking lot, it is your responsibility to bring your packages to Immaculate Conception Church, Druid Hill Ave. & Mosher St. Under no circumstances should packages be left at the Cathedral. If you are unable to make it to the Cathedral on Saturday, December 15, between 10-11am, please ask a friend or neighbor to drop off the packages for you.

THANK YOU so much for choosing to focus on giving this season, and for helping to make the Christmas of your family happier. Please remember that this is a commitment to a family who is depending on you. It may be all they receive. If you have any questions, please e-mail Alma. 

Please call the Parish Office
(410) 464-4000
or contact us online.