The family I am sponsoring does not speak English.  Will the Denver Rescue Mission provide a translator for us?

• Because we match about 300 families with sponsors each year, logistically it is not possible for us to find a translator for each Spanish speaking family.  Generally there is a member (sometimes a child) of the household that speaks some English if you are unable to find a translator of your own.  Please check your family’s wish list to see if they have listed an interpreter’s name. 

Can I adopt the same family that I adopted last year?

• While we appreciate your participation in the program each year, please understand that families may only be adopted one time.  This program is designed as a one time opportunity for parents to provide Christmas gifts to their children during a year when they may be facing financial hardship.

May I have my adopted family’s information in October or early November so that I can begin shopping?

• The families who will be adopted sign up in person the last week in October.  Once sign – ups have concluded it takes about a week or two to match all of the sponsors with families and send out the information.  We hope to get your families information to you no later than November 15; however it is not possible to give you the information before this because we must wait until the families have actually signed up. 

Who should I call if I need more specific information about requests and clothing sizes?

• You are welcome to contact the family directly to clarify any questions you may have about sizes or specific items.  Please know that we have not given the adopted family your contact information.  We leave it to the discretion of the sponsor as to whether or not they would like to contact the adopted family.  If you would like the Denver Rescue Mission to be a liaison between you and the family, we are more than happy to contact them for you; however, we have found that is often easier and quicker if you contact them directly.

What should I do if the family requests gifts that are beyond my budget?

• The families are aware of the recommended amounts that their sponsors will spend on them.  Some children may not fully understand the price of certain items or simply request items that are beyond limits of the sponsor’s budget.  Please do not feel obligated to purchase everything on the wish list because these truly are wishes, not demands.  The family will be blessed by anything that you are able to provide for Christmas.  We ask that you meet those minimum requirements outlined in the agreement so that we can manage the expectations of the families and we know that many sponsors go far above and beyond what is required; however, we do not want our sponsors to feel pressured or financially burdened by the Adopt-A-Family program.

Can you email me the family’s information instead of mailing or faxing it?

• Yes.  In past years we have not been able to email family information, however, this will be our second year using our online system and all sponsors will receive information about their adopted family via email.      

How does the Denver Rescue Mission screen families to make sure that they are truly in need?

• To sign up for Adopt-A-Family, families come to the Ministry Outreach Center in person for 4 days between the hours of 9am and 4pm.  Since we can only take a limited number of families each day (to match the amount of sponsors we have signed up), families often arrive 6 or 7 hours early to reserve their spot in line.  While we do not require verification of a certain income level for families to qualify to be adopted, we trust that there is definitely a need in their lives that cause them to wait in the cold for hours.  We do require that parents provide proof of custody for each child that lives in their household.  While we cannot ask a family to prove that they are in need, and as with all of us different adverse economic situations can occur at anytime, we find that the vast majority of participating families truly need and appreciate the gifts that their sponsors lovingly give them at Christmas. 

Are my gifts to the adopted family tax deductible?