Boys & Girls Club Blog

October 4, 2021

The holidays are quickly approaching and for many families it means spending more time together and giving gifts to loved ones. However, many parents and guardians of our Club members are focused on paying their rent and keeping food on the table so their kids can have a comfortable place to sleep and full bellies at night. The extra expenses for things like gifts are just not always possible. Unfortunately, kids often don’t understand and just see that Santa didn’t come again.

With help from kind and generous donors like you, the Club tries to ease the burden on families in the greatest need through our Adopt a Family program. Club families, who are referred to the program by full-time staff, create wish lists for each child in their household (including their wishes for toys and clothing items they need). The Club anonymously matches each family with a donor and provides the donor with the family’s wish lists so they can shop and wrap gifts for their adopted family.

Last year the Club was able to assist over 170 Club members and their families for the holidays! With your help, we can make the 2021 holiday season a joyful one again for many Boys & Girls Club members and families.

If you are interested in adopting a family this year contact Alex Fischer, Boys & Girls Club Development & Grants Coordinator, at 920- 233-1414, ext. 122 or alexandraf@bgcosh.org. Donors will be matched with families from October to early December as families become available. There will be a safe drop-off for the gifts at the Club for donors and we will deliver them to the families for them to open on Christmas morning. If you would like to help, but aren’t interested in adopting a family we are also looking for donated hygiene baskets that can include basic household items like toilet paper, laundry detergent, hand soap, body wash, toothbrushes, etc. We found that parents are beyond grateful for this extra surprise as these are items they always need around their house.

Below are letters received from Club parents or guardians whose family was part of the Adopt a Family Program.