Each year, generous donors give children and families in need a holiday season to remember through Oakland Family Services’ holiday programs, which provide Thanksgiving dinners and holiday gifts.

Job loss and other financial insecurity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have put even more stress on people this year, and many of the families we serve are wondering how they will be able to afford next week’s groceries or next month’s rent. Some cannot even see a Thanksgiving dinner or gifts for their children as a realistic option.

This is where you come in. You can make these special moments a reality for children and families in need through our Thanksgiving Dinner and Adopt A Family programs.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, these programs are going to look a little different this year, but we hope donors will still rise to the occasion and build brighter holidays for families experiencing hard times. It may feel like the holidays are ages away, but now is the time to start thinking about getting involved!

Thanksgiving Dinner

Last year’s Thanksgiving Baskets program provided meals for 100 families. In a typical year, we ask donors to contribute various food items, and volunteers come in to pack up a meal for each family. This year, to keep our donors, volunteers, staff and clients safe, Oakland Family Services will instead be offering a $60 grocery store gift card to each family as, for safety reasons, we are not able to accept donations of food.

We are asking donors to send in monetary donations online or via mail, with which Oakland Family Services will purchase gift cards for each family. Our goal is to collect $6,000 to feed 100 families.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the holidays are a bit more stressful than in previous years,” said Oakland Family Services Director of Development Kristin Benton. “Though we won’t be able to physically provide Thanksgiving dinner to our families due to health and safety concerns, we are still counting on the community to help us by sponsoring a family’s holiday meal. We hope that with these meals, our families will be able to breathe a little bit easier and spend this holiday cherishing their time together.”

To participate:

You can give any amount of your choice at www.oaklandfamilyservices.org/thanksgiving. We are asking that all online donations be made by Wednesday, Nov. 18. You may also mail check or cash donations Attn: Nikki Serra, Oakland Family Services, 114 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac, MI 48314. We ask that all mail-in donations be postmarked no later than Friday, Nov. 13.

Suggested donation amounts:

• $60 will provide an entire meal for a family. Families will be able to afford a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries and dessert.

• $40 will allow a family to purchase a 15-pound turkey.

• $20 will allow a family to purchase sides and dessert.

Adopt A Family

Last year, our largest-ever Adopt A Family program provided gifts for more than 900 children from more than 350 families. We hope to keep that momentum going this year!

“The Adopt A Family program has had an incredible impact over the years, thanks to the generosity and support of our donors and community,” said Oakland Family Services Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator Nikki Serra. “This year, the pandemic has caused increased stress and hardship throughout our community. We anticipate the need for holiday support to be greater this year and hope the Adopt A Family program can bring joy and reduce stress for the families we serve.”

For the safety of everyone involved, we are asking donors to purchase gift cards in lieu of presents. This will allow families to purchase gifts in the manner of their choosing.

To participate:

If you would like to adopt a family, please sign up by contacting Nikki Serra at nserra@ofsfamily.org or (248) 858-7766 ext. 1218.

After you have been matched with a family, you will receive a family profile and wish list that suggests which stores to purchase gift cards from for each family member.

Each family will be assigned a family code to maintain client confidentiality. Donors are asked to label each gift card with both the family code and the first name of the recipient, then place each family’s gift cards together in an envelope labeled with the family code.

Gift cards can be mailed Attn: Nikki Serra, Oakland Family Services, 114 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. In order to give families enough time to purchase gifts using the gift cards they receive, we ask that gift cards be mailed to us by no later than Friday, Nov. 20.

Gift cards can also be dropped off to our Pontiac office and left in the black locked mailbox outside of the Orchard Lake Road entrance to the parking lot. The deadline to drop off donations is Wednesday, Dec. 2.

If you would like to financially contribute to the program without adopting a family, please donate at www.oaklandfamilyservices.org/buildbrighterfutures by Wednesday, Dec. 2.

If you have questions about the Thanksgiving Dinner or Adopt A Family programs, please contact Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator Nikki Serra at nserra@ofsfamily.org or (248) 858-7766 ext. 1218.

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