Boys & Girls Club Blog

December 10, 2025

This year, the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh helped make the holiday season brighter for local youth and families through two hallmark initiatives, our Thanksgiving Meals Program and our Adopt a Family gift program. Thanks to the generosity of donors, community partners and dedicated supporters, hundreds of families experienced comfort, joy and connection during what can be a challenging season.

Thanksgiving Meals Program

For many families in our community, enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal is not always possible. Financial barriers, limited access to resources and unexpected hardships can make the holiday season stressful rather than celebratory. To ensure that all Club families could gather around a warm meal, the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh partnered with compassionate donors to purchase and distribute more than 70 fully prepared Thanksgiving dinners from Festival Foods.

In addition to purchased meals, we are deeply grateful to several community partners whose donations helped us expand our reach.

• The Roxy Supper Club generously donated 60 individual meals
• TJ’s Harbor Restaurant provided 20 family-sized Thanksgiving dinners
• Truffle Pig contributed delicious pumpkin desserts

Because of these incredible contributions, families who might have otherwise gone without were able to slow down, gather together and enjoy a holiday meal with dignity and joy. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to every donor, volunteer and community partner who made this possible. We truly could not have done it without you.

Adopt a Family Program

The holiday spirit continued through our Adopt a Family Program, which connects local donors with Club families to provide gifts, essentials and a sense of celebration for children during the winter season. Each participating family shared a personalized wish list for their child or children, and donors thoughtfully shopped to ensure every child felt special and cared for.

In addition to gifts, families received hygiene baskets to help support basic needs at home, another important part of this program. During the holiday season, many families face added financial pressure, making it difficult to budget for everyday essentials like soap, shampoo, toothpaste and other personal care items. Providing hygiene baskets ensures families can focus on enjoying time together without worrying about these basic necessities. It also promotes health, confidence and stability at a time of year when children and parents alike deserve to feel cared for and supported.

After weeks of coordination, gift drop-off took place on Monday, December 8th followed by gift pick-up the next day. The excitement and gratitude from parents, guardians and caregivers was a powerful reminder of how meaningful this program is for our Club community.

Thanks to the remarkable generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Oshkosh, this year we provided holiday gifts to 109 families, supporting 257 children. Each wrapped present represents more than a gift; it symbolizes care, hope and the support of an entire community standing behind local youth.

A Season of Gratitude

The success of these programs reflects the heart of our mission: to improve the lives of children and families, especially those who need us most. We are incredibly thankful for every donor, partner and volunteer who helped lift families up this holiday season.

Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community where every child and family feels valued and supported, not just during the holidays, but throughout the entire year.