URGENT! Christmas Bureau Families Need You by Dec. 13!
You have the chance to be a holiday hero for 1,166 Shawnee County families!
The Shawnee County Christmas Bureau is an annual tradition that allows everyone in our community to make the holiday season brighter for our Shawnee County neighbors in need. United Way of Kaw Valley and other community partners connect thousands of individuals and families to a holiday meal and gifts by matching them with agencies or community “adopters.”
Adopters can be individuals, families, organizations, businesses, churches, friend groups, or more. They choose an adoptee individual or family using our new online portal, receive a wish list to shop for their adoptees (with a gift limit of $45 per adoptee) and communicate with their adoptee to purchase supplies or a grocery gift card for a holiday meal. Then before the holiday, adopters arrange a time to deliver their gifts and food to their adoptees.
This year 1,166 households, ranging from single adults to familes of 10, registered to receive assistance through the Christmas Bureau. This was the largest number of families in need in recent memory. We have until December 13 to match all of those households to someone who can fulfill their modest holiday wishes. By Giving Tuesday, we were able to match just over 700 of those households, but there are so many more waiting for help.
As of Thursday, December 5, more than 400 households are still waiting and hoping for a match.
Your donations cover the cost of administering the program, and importantly cover the cost of holiday food and gift items for any family that does not get adopted. This ensures that every family that is registered for the Christmas Bureau is able to receive assistance. If we are unable to find adopters for families, United Way relies on monetary donations to purchase and deliver items to unmatched families.
You can adopt your family or make a donation in support of the Christmas Bureau here: https://www.uwkawvalley.org/christmasbureau-adopt. Please share this information with friends, family and your other networks.