Holiday Sharing
Moorelands Kids’ Holiday Sharing Adopt-a-Family links a family, firm or group with a family or families whose children have attended Moorelands Camp.
Through your sponsorship or “adoption,” Moorelands Kids provides holiday gifts to low-income Toronto families whose children attend our programs.
See below for ways to help out our families this holiday season.
If you are a family seeking holiday assistance, click here.
HOLIDAY SHARING 2023 – RESULT AND IMPACT
Thanks to the Moorelands Community of dedicated donors, volunteers and staff. You have made a real difference to many of our families this holiday season by participating in Holiday Sharing. Throughout Holiday Sharing, gratitude has been a common thread shared by all of our sponsored families. Let’s now hear from the sponsors and sponsored families.
Ways to Give Back
DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO SHOPPING?
Donate the value of adopting a Moorelands Kids' family and we'll get the gifts on your behalf!
“You have helped my family tremendously. You can’t imagine how important this is. Thank you for making my kids happy.”
– Holiday Sharing Family
“Thank you for your kind gesture in these difficult times. My family and I are blessed to have each other and you have allowed us to create memories this Christmas and put smiles on my childrens’ faces.”
– Holiday Sharing Family
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to give you a big thanks for your gifts. You will be putting a big smile on my children’s faces. It has been tough, but this new year will be a new beginning and the start are these gifts for my children.”
– Holiday Sharing Family
Important Info About Holiday Sharing
Moorelands Kids may be able to provide a charitable tax receipt for the gifts you purchase. If you would like a charitable tax receipt, you must:
- keep the original purchase receipts for each gift
- fill out our online form
- bring in the purchase receipts with your gifts.
Due to CRA guidelines, purchase receipts will not be accepted after the gifts have been dropped off.
At Moorelands Kids we respect the dignity of the families we serve. That’s why our Holiday Sharing is anonymous. If you wish to connect more closely with the family you are adopting, please feel free to include a special message to them (please keep your names, or your group anonymous as well). Moorelands will ensure the message is delivered. The message is meant as an opportunity, not as an expectation.
Detailed gift-giving guidelines will be provided once you sign up but here is a general overview: For each child age 16 and under you will be asked to provide:
- Hats and waterproof mitts/gloves
- Games, activity, toy or gift card
- Holiday treats (chocolates or sweets)
(Typically this will cost up to $100 per child, depending on the age)
- Grocery gift cards – $100 for a family of 2 and an additional $25 for each additional member (a family of 3 would receive $125, a family of 4 would receive $150)
It’s exciting to help others and sometimes we’re tempted to “make this holiday the best ever.” Please be fair and follow the guidelines. Many recipient families know each other and all pick up their packages at the Moorelands holiday “warehouse.” To the extent possible, we’d like our families to receive gifts of comparable value. We do check deliveries to ensure that each child has age-appropriate gifts and the grocery gift card amount matches the family size. If you are inspired to do more, please consider adopting an additional family or sponsor a child to attend another Moorelands’ program such as Moorelands Camp or one of our after-school programs. See other ways you can get involved by clicking here.
Drop-off Dates:
Once you have successfully applied to adopt-a-family, we will assign you a date to drop off your gifts. Drop off dates are December 4-6, 2023. We will try our best to give you a drop off date based on your application form preferences.
Drop-off Times:
Drop off times are between 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- Organize your plan – get your family or group together
- Complete the online application in October (act fast since we have a limited number of families available)
- We will contact you within a week of receiving your application, assign you a family or families as requested and provide the information you will need
- Go shopping, pack the unwrapped gifts for your family/families and complete the packing slip
- Deliver the boxes (or have them delivered by courier) to the drop-off location in Toronto on your scheduled date. You will be notified by email where this is.
- Feel great about helping families in need and for inspiring others to get involved!
- We’ll organize time/dates for the families to pick up their gifts
Info for Families Seeking Support
Moorelands Kids Holiday Sharing serves families whose children have attended our camp or participated in multiple Festive Friday programs in the current year (2023). If your child/children attended our camp, please note that applications for support must be in by October 2nd. If you are a participant in our Camp program, please apply through your Campsite Account.
If your child/children did not attend our camp and you need support this holiday season, the Christmas Bureau opens November 1st. Please contact them for support at cris@toronto.ca.
Please check out our other programs than run throughout the year:
Volunteer With Holiday Sharing
Be an elf! Help spread joy this holiday season by volunteering with Moorelands Kids Holiday Program. Sign-up starts on September 25, 2023.
