TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo-based nonprofit Leading Families Home (LFH) is inviting people to take part in the Adopt-a-Family campaign to help out families in need ahead of the holiday shopping season.
LFH's Executive Director Jennifer Jacobs said she's proud of the northwest Ohio community because over the last five years of this campaign, they've really come out and supported those who need a little holiday cheer.
"It's fantastic. They've been amazing every year we have had 100 percent of our families taken care of. Who doesn't wanna be Santa all year? It's fun. So, we have this and that way too the difference between like our families, we do the entire family. So, parents too," Jacobs said.
The nonprofit is asking community members to adopt one of the nearly 150 families who are either staying at one of the two emergency shelters or in the housing program and give them the gifts they've requested.
Each family wish list can be viewed before a person commits to adopting them. You can then click the adopt button located below each family when ready to make a choice. When questioned about why they have another program, Jacobs said it's good to offer options to families who may not have many or any at all.
"When they're in an emergency shelter, they don't get to come in with a whole lot of things. You know, so they're limited on space, we're moving them from the shelter to housing," Jacobs said. "Sometimes they get missed. You know, they get lost between the cracks there and so-forth and they don't have the space for some of it."
If you're not interested in adopting a family, Jacobs said sending generic gifts of socks, underwear and monetary donations are all accepted as new families enter the shelter weekly. Gifts should be delivered to 2283 Ashland Ave., Toledo, OH 43620, on or before Dec. 17.
The organization provides emergency shelter and health programs for families during the holiday season. Over 50 percent of the people served by the organization are children. In 2023, over 80 families were adopted in the campaign.
The full list of adoptable and already adopted families can be found HERE.
For questions, contact Danielle at dedwards@lfhtoledo.org