Costa Mesa, CA — Did you know that the SOS Adopt A Family program has been taking place every December since just before Share Our Selves began? Continuing with this amazing local tradition of care during an added time of need, Adopt a Family was able to celebrate a successful 50th anniversary with the help of thousands from the community.

With the help of school districts and organizations from Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, who were able to identify struggling families in their networks, Share Our Selves was able to match these families with generous donors and local businesses to provide both gifts and food for the holidays. The entire operation culminates in a large-scale donor drop-off event at the OC Fair & Event Center with the help of hundreds of joyful volunteers.

Through the collective efforts of all involved, this year’s program was able to provide gifts and food for over 1,490 families with 4,537 children. While the immediate intent is to provide hope and opportunity during the holiday season, the long-term goal is to provide these families with the year-round opportunities for access to the other services SOS offers.

In the 50 years of the program, Adopt A Family has provided help during the holidays to more than 52,000 families. The legacy of this program is inextricably tied to the greater community of invaluable volunteers who have put in countless hours of services, along with the thousands of donors who made the choice to bring the magic of the holidays to struggling families in Orange County.

We are incredibly humbled and grateful for the support so many of you have shared, the time you have committed, and the generosity you have shown to help make this program a reality for 50 years. We are excited to see how this program will continue to grow and thrive.