Adopt-a-Family Stratford to provide holiday dinners for families in need in its sixth year

Michelle Jackson, Dan Woods and Ashley Jantzi, the organizers of the annual Adopt-a-Family Stratford program, are hoping locals will give generously this holiday season in support of local families in need.

Adopt-a-Family Stratford is officially back in its sixth year, offering locals a chance to give back to families in need during the holiday season.

First started in 2020 as a gift-giving program for families struggling during the pandemic, Adopt-a-Family Stratford evolved two years ago to provide low-income families with gift cards to local businesses donated by area residents and businesses.

With 30 families in need already registered as recipients for the Adopt-a-Family program this year, those who sign up as program sponsors will have the opportunity to contribute $50 gift cards for local businesses and grocery stores, allowing those families and more to purchase gifts and food for Christmas dinners without worrying about rising costs.

“It’s a $50, personal gift card for each member of the family and every family overall gets a $50 gift card for a grocery story of their choice where they can get their Christmas meal from,” said program organizer Ashley Jantzi, adding program recipients are required to submit their 2024 notice of assessment or tax forms to ensure their income level qualifies them for the Adopt-a-Family program.

City residents who would like to sponsor a local family are required to fill out an online form, which can be found on the Adopt-a-Family Stratford Facebook page. Once approved, organizers will provide each sponsor with a family’s wish list to help guide the purchasing of appropriate gift cards. Once purchased, those gift cards are to be dropped off with the Adopt-a-Family Stratford organizers on a specified drop-off day roughly one week before recipient families are set to pick up their gift cards on Dec. 14.

“Last year, we had a public sponsor drop-off (of the purchased gift cards) about a week before the family pick-up, and that worked really well. This year, we’re trying to figure out where we’re going to host it. Last year was at city hall, which was great, it was central, but it was also really cold and we kind of froze our tushes off. So, this year, we’re trying to find somewhere that’s indoors or where we can have a space heater that can keep us warm.”

This program is entirely anonymous as the names of recipient families are not shared with sponsors. Those interested in registering as a recipient family must email adoptafamilystratford@gmail.com by Nov. 22 at noon and have all necessary tax documents and wish lists submitted by Nov. 24. Only members of a recipient family can register; registration is not permitted on behalf of a family.

Jantzi said last year’s Adopt-a-Family Stratford program managed to bring in $11,450 in gift cards for 60 families or 169 people in total. While that was a banner year for the program, which saw its biggest response since 2022, Jantzi said she and her fellow organizers are hopeful this year’s program can help just as many people enjoy the holiday season.

“I am always astounded at how appreciative the families are and how much they recognize it’s a locally run program and all the sponsors are people from their own community,” she said. “It’s not just about helping other people; it’s about sharing that feeling of Christmas magic.

“That’s what we’re here for.”