Hope for the Holidays
Hope for the Holidays assists families to experience the joy of the holidays by providing children, parents, and seniors with new gifts and/or household supplies. With household budgets being stretched thin for necessities, Hope for the Holidays eases the burden on parents and families and provides comfort and connection to seniors. We envision a joy-filled holiday for all families.
There are 3 ways to participate in Hope for the Holidays in 2021:
Adopt-a-Family
Adopt-a-Family spreads the joy of the holidays by providing children and families with gifts. Client families create wish lists and are matched with donors who donate gifts specific to those families.
Your financial obligation for each family member adopted is $50, including a $50 gift card for the parent.
Important Adopt-a-Family Dates
November 19th: Adopt-a-Family sign-up closes
November 15th-20th: “Adopted” family’s Wish List(s) will be emailed to donors
Drop-off times include:
December 6th: 9am-11am
December 7th: 12pm-2pm
December 8th: 3pm-6pm
Adopt-a-Senior
Adopt-a-Senior supports senior citizens by providing them with household goods and small gifts to let them know they are not alone this holiday season. For our senior clients who have been living in isolation due to the pandemic, Adopt-a-Senior is a great way to bring seasonal cheer into their homes in a safe and supportive way!
Donors fill a reusable bag with the following items, which are then dispersed to participating seniors:
Dish soap
Dish towels
Tissues/Kleenex
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Package of coffee
Gift card (suggested value $10)
Other suggested items: slipper socks, puzzle, books, greeting cards/note cards, stamps, a hand-written note
Important Adopt-a-Senior Dates
November 30th: Adopt-a-Senior registration closes
Drop-off times include:
December 2nd: 9am-11am
December 3rd: 12pm-2pm
Toy Distribution
Toy Distribution differs from Adopt-a-Family and Adopt-a-Senior in that a donor gathers new toys to be distributed to the greater community instead of being paired directly with a family. This is a great opportunity for companies, churches, or community clubs looking for a year-end donation opportunity. Specifically, toys are distributed to children from birth to age 14 whose families utilize CAP’s Food Shelf or Energy Assistance programs. Collected toys should not be gift wrapped.
Important Toy Distribution Dates
December 16th-December 22nd: Toy Distribution donations can be dropped off at CAP.
Drop-off times include:
December 13th: 9am-11am
December 14th: 12pm-2pm
December 15th: 3pm-6pm
Drop-off Location:
Please note, CAP is relocating to a new building in November. All gift donations should be dropped off at our new location:
738 1st Ave East
Shakopee, MN 55379
Please go to the service door.
Please refer to your specific program (above) for drop-off times. For donors who have generously registered for more than one HFTH program, you are welcome to bring all of your gifts donations at the same time.
Covid-19 safety measures:
We have several measures in place to make this season’s Hope for the Holidays safe and efficient for all:
- All donations can be dropped off at our contact-free warehouse. When you arrive, please go the service door to drop-off your items
- CAP staff and volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves. We ask that you wear a mask when dropping off gifts
- Only toys will be held in isolation until clients pick them up
- Gift wrapping is discouraged, but ribbon and bows are acceptable
Questions? Email Jackie Lara at jlara@capagency.org or call the Hope for the Holidays Hotline at 952-402-9871.
If you’re interested in being adopted for the holiday gift program, you will need to work with your CAP case worker and be part of one of the following programs: Head Start, Housing, Crisis Nursery, WIC, or Esperanza. If you utilize our food shelf or energy assistance program, you can enroll in Toy Distribution by contacting those programs directly. If you have not been a CAP Agency client in 2021, then you would not be eligible for our gift program.
Volunteer Opportunities
As the December holiday season quickly approaches, there are countless projects filled with the spirit of giving. Our holiday activities at the CAP Agency include Adopt-a-Family, Toy Distribution, and Adopt-a-Senior. Each of these activities depend on volunteers to ensure gifts are provided for the families we serve. Volunteering provides the opportunity to give toys to children or deliver essentials to a senior, and this helps remind us of the importance of caring.
We invite you, friends, family (including older children) to assist in selecting gifts for families and take this opportunity to give back to their community. We also welcome school groups, organizations, or local businesses to volunteer! Please note, all volunteers are required to wear masks.
PROJECT STUDENT SUCCESS
Each August & September, CAP Agency provides students in need with a new backpack filled with school supplies: pencils, pens, folders, markers, notebooks, and more.
The program is open to current CAP clients living in Scott, Carver, and Dakota Counties with children in school (up through 12th grade). Please sign up with CAP program staff.
To register for backpacks, please contact your CAP staff person.
To volunteer or donate, please contact Maritza Real, 952-402-9843, mreal@capagency.org.
ESPERANZA
Esperanza has joined CAP Agency as a program focusing on serving new immigrants, at risk youth, and underserved and low-income youth and families. Through weekly fresh food distributions, the Esperanza program helps CAP Agency reach thousands of traditionally underserved people in need. Other services include cultural and community engagement, youth sports and outdoor activities (such as soccer), and other services through school-based partnerships.