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Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program

two adults holding gifts What is the Adopt-A-Family program?

The Adopt-a-Family Program was developed to help children and families who are in need of clothing, food and toys for the holidays. Every fall, the program begins taking donations to support families who are working with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services. The program matches generous donors with identified families to make their holidays more joyful.

In 2026, Adopt-A-Family marks 20 years of service to families in Fairfax County. With the help of the community, this program has expanded its mission since its inception in 2006. Volunteer & Partner Services works within the community to help these families in times of need, not just during the holiday season.

If your family, business, company, organization or faith-based group is interested in helping to support a family experiencing difficult times during the holidays, this might be the program for you.

Please consider Adopting-A-Family today to help make their holidays brighter!

Make an impact and help families at the holidays or any time of the year by making a monetary contribution or providing gift cards for food, clothing, toys, new baby items, etc.

To get involved, contact the the Volunteer and Partner Services Supervisor by email.

In 2026 the Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program continues our partnership with Roonga, an innovative online platform that simplifies connecting donors with children and families in need during the holiday season.

Department of Family Services (DFS) clients are eligible for this program if they currently have an open DFS case or are receiving DFS services. Referrals must be submitted by the DFS caseworker; clients may not self-refer. Caseworkers are responsible for coordinating gift drop-off with donors and arranging gift pick-up with clients.

Starting October 1, you will be able to start adopting families by logging onto the live site. Check back throughout the season as it will be continuously updated with new families. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

New Gifts Only: All holiday gifts must be brand new—we’re unable to accept used or gently used items, no matter their condition.
Unwrapped Gifts: Gifts should remain unwrapped, but donations of wrapping paper, gift bags, and supplies are more than welcome.
Suggested Budget: While there’s no set dollar amount, we recommend spending around $125-$150 per child, aiming to include 4-5 gifts per child, along with clothing. We kindly ask that you purchase items from the wish list, as these are the gifts the children truly desire and will cherish the most.
Caregiver Gift Cards: If possible, we kindly ask that you consider including a gift card for the caregiver(s), typically between $50-$100, to a large retailer or grocery store. Some caregivers may also provide their own wish list as part of the program.
Deadline: Deliver the unwrapped gifts or have them shipped to the referring worker by Friday, Dec. 11, 2026. Please do not deliver gifts to the family's home.

By following these guidelines, you’ll help ensure each family feels the warmth and generosity of the holiday season!

SPREADING HOLIDAY JOY AND CHEER!

2025 Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program Infographic

Our 2025 Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program had a record-breaking year! Adopt-A-Family continued to support all child serving programs within the Department of Family Services and the community responded so enthusiastically. It was incredible to see such unprecedented levels of giving in a year when our community also experienced so many financial challenges!

This year Adopt-A-Family moved into the 21st century as we embraced new technology. We partnered with Roonga, an online platform, to simplify the process of connecting donors with children and families in need during the holiday season. Donors were able to adopt families through the Roonga site which was continually updated throughout the season with additional families. This new process, along with new media coverage, helped us to broaden the program’s reach throughout our region, and the response was overwhelming.

Thanks to our 882 donors the holidays were brighter for 1,019 families and 2,096 children this season! Thank you to all the kind donors for the heartfelt gifts, clothing, toys, necessities, and more!

Each and every one of you who adopted a child and family in need this holiday season made a huge difference in their lives. Your generosity is inspiring, and we appreciate all that goes into making this program a success.

Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

Department of Family Services Alert:

Department Resources

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Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program

SPREADING HOLIDAY JOY AND CHEER!

You can learn more about the 2025 program.

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Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

Department of Family Services Alert:

Department Resources

Related Resources

Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program

How Can You Help?

How Does Adopting a Family Work?

SPREADING HOLIDAY JOY AND CHEER!

You can learn more about the 2025 program.

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

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