Who Can Sponsor? Any person, family, office, or group is welcome to sponsor a family. Nearly 700 Morgan County families were helped last year.
What Does the Sponsor Do? We have referrals from local schools, Head Start, churches and other organizations of families in need. The families complete “wish lists” with possible gifts and clothing sizes, have authorized information to be shared with sponsors, and know they will be contacted by the sponsor. A sponsor should contact the family with any wish list questions. Priorities are to give each family a Christmas dinner, each school-age or younger child clothing and gifts, and if possible, to give the family additional food and hygiene items for the break when children are home from school (food stamps don’t cover soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.).
How Much Does It Cost to Sponsor? You should anticipate spending about $125 per child (clothing & gifts) and consider spending about $15-20 per family member (including adults) for food and hygiene items. A family with 2 adults and 2 children would be about $300. These are estimates – one child may need a new coat while another doesn’t – but if you can spend more, consider adopting a larger or second family.
How Are the Gifts Delivered? The sponsor should contact the family by Dec. 10 to make delivery arrangements. Items can be wrapped but consider using gift bags or boxes with separate lids so parents can see the gifts before giving them to their children, or giving wrapping items for the parents to use. Some families have transportation and others do not, so the sponsor may need to meet the family at a school, church or other location.
Do the Families Get Items from Other Places? Organizing the adoption of families through Churches In Mission helps us insure that as many families as possible are covered without duplication. We coordinate with more than 20 local agencies (schools, churches, and other groups) and dozens of family sponsors to try to help all Morgan County families in need as equitably as possible.
If you're ready to sponsor, please complete the rest of this form!
