Delaware is looking for a few secret Santas.
The state is closely approaching the December 9 deadline for its Holiday Adopt-A-Family program and still has around 600 children and 60 seniors without sponsors.
Last year, the program found sponsors for 2,100 people.
Lisa Johnson is the program administrator for Adopt-A-Family. She said there’s a wide array of people whose Christmas you can brighten.
“We have a lot of vets. A single mother who’s a veteran. She’s been deployed three different times and suffered through some homelessness. Her family is going through some traumatic issues and can really use help,” she said.
You can sponsor a senior citizen, a person with a disability or a family with children in need.
The state asks child sponsors to buy $125 gift cards that the head of the household can use to buy presents.
If you adopt a senior or a person with a disability, you’ll get a list of things that person needs and you can choose what to buy for them.
Everything is anonymous, but you get a brief description of the person or family you’ve adopted and a thank you card.
Recipients are people like single parents or seniors without families. They’re already involved in one of Delaware’s social service programs and are referred through those programs.
Holiday Adopt-A-Program phone numbers:
Kent and Sussex Counties: 302-424-7260
New Castle County: 302-792-6510