Adopt A Family

Adopt A Family Program

Matches for the Adopt A Family program are based on eligibility and made via Steele County Toys for Tots. Families interested in applying for Toys for Tots click here to be taken to their website and download the application; which is available in English, Spanish, or Somali.  The Adopt a Family Program served a total of 76 local families in 2023!

General Information for Sponsors

The families that are adopted out through our program may have specific needs that differ from what the Toys for Tots/Family to Family General Distribution Project can provide. All family members, not just children, are included in the adoption. As a sponsor, you will need to provide a food card for the family as well as spend (at a minimum) a dollar amount per family member.  If you're interested in sponsoring, please contact United Way of Steele County and we'll be happy to provide you with the specific spending requirements.

All families are ANONYMOUS. A family number will be assigned to distinguish each family for recipient verification. If the packages are wrapped, please attach a card on the outside of the package indicating the contents, family number assigned, and what person the package is intended for (e.g., 1 year old female). You can also identify yourself or your organization so that a thank you can be sent.

Social workers, financial workers, and other community agencies make referrals (to Toys for Tots) for this program. Families are not able to self-refer and we are sorry that referrals from family members or friends are not accepted.  Families accepted into this program are ineligible to participate in any other gift-giving program, such as Toys for Tots, and will not be accepted as recipients next year, so please make this a special holiday for them.
 

DROP OFF GUIDANCE:  To make the process easy for all involved, please remain in your vehicle when you arrive for drop off. Volunteers will come out to your vehicle, obtain your sponsor information, and then bring your donated items in to the facility.
 

PLEASE NOTE:  Sponsors, we will have specific drop off times as designated below, on the days of December 9 - December 10.   Our distribution to the families will be Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

• Monday, December 9 (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Owatonna) from 11:00AM - 1:00PM & 4:00PM - 6:00PM
• Tuesday, December 10 (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Owatonna) from 11:00AM - 1:00PM & 4:00PM - 6:00PM

QUESTIONS? INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR? CONTACT:
Neil Lyons, Operations Coordinator
United Way of Steele County
Phone: 507-455-1180