Bring joy to a local family
For some of the families we serve, the holidays come during an especially difficult season. They may be navigating housing instability, financial hardship, mental health or substance use challenges, or homelessness – and simply making ends meet can leave little room for holiday gifts.
That’s where you come in! Through Directions for Living’s Adopt-a-Family program, you can choose a local child or family, shop from their wish list, and help create a holiday filled with a little magic.
How it works
Browse the wish lists below and find a child or family you’d like to support this holiday season.
Complete the adoption form to officially reserve your family before you begin shopping.
Shop from the wish list and bring your new, unwrapped gifts to Directions for Living on December 7-8.
Gift guidelines
Gift Drop-off
To make sure gifts reach families in time for the holidays, all gifts must be delivered to:
Directions for Living Clearwater Center
1437 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL 33764
Drop-Off Times
Monday, December 7 | 3pm – 7pm
Tuesday, December 8 | 8am – 1 pm
Detailed drop-off instructions will be emailed to our donors before the delivery dates.
what makes this program special
We make every wish personal
We take the time to quietly learn what each child truly hopes for — not just what someone might assume they’d like. Instead of guessing that a six-year-old boy wants Legos, we find out that this six-year-old has been dreaming of a specific blue stuffed dinosaur. It’s about making sure every child feels seen and experiences that “how did Santa know?!” kind of magic.
We honor parents with dignity and care
Gifts are delivered unwrapped so parents can see, wrap, and give them as their own – keeping the spirit of Santa alive and the joy of giving right where it belongs. It’s about helping families create moments of magic and normalcy, and these sweet kids feeling seen and cherished after a tough year.
We think through every detail
From wrapping paper and tape to batteries for toys and helmets for scooters, we make sure nothing is missing. Parents can focus on the joy, and kids can simply experience the wonder of the holidays.
We create moments families will remember
For some of the families we serve, the holidays come after a year filled with uncertainty and challenges. A special gift, carefully chosen just for them, can create a moment of joy that feels wonderfully ordinary — a child tearing into a gift they’ve been dreaming about, or a parent watching their little one experience that holiday magic. Those moments matter, and that’s what makes this program so special.
Choose a Family to Adopt
Browse the wish lists below to learn a little about each family and see the items they’re hoping for this holiday season. Choose the family or families you’d like to adopt, then click the button below to officially reserve your selection before you start shopping.
Wish lists that are grayed out have already been selected by another donor and are currently being fulfilled. Thank you for helping make the holidays special for a family in our community!
2025 Impact
Thanks to your incredible support, more than 560 children experienced the joy, magic, and warmth of the holidays this year. From carefully chosen wish list items to thoughtful surprises, you helped make sure children felt seen, celebrated, and remembered during a season that can be especially hard for families facing challenging circumstances.
“The gifts were beyond anything I expected. My daughter couldn’t believe she got four new dresses and my son hasn’t put his Stitch doll down. Thank you for making them feel so special.”
Grateful Mom
DFL Client
In the news
Spectrum Bay News 9 did a story on the success of our Adopt a Family holiday campaign! Hear from a generous donor and a grateful client here by watching this video.