Adopt A Working Family
Make the Holidays Brighter for a Local Working Family
Every holiday season, United Way of the Lakeshore connects generous individuals, families, workplaces, faith communities, and groups with local working families who could use a little extra support.
Through Adopt a Working Family, adopters receive a family profile and wish list, shop for meaningful gifts and essentials, and help bring some joy and financial breathing room to a household right here in our community.
In 2026, United Way will serve up to 50 working families across Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana counties.
Why This Matters
Many families in our community are working hard and still struggling to keep up with the cost of everyday necessities like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and childcare.
The holidays can add even more pressure to an already tight household budget.
Adopt a Working Family brings our community together to help ease that pressure. It is about more than gifts. It is an opportunity to remind local families that their community sees them, supports them, and is rooting for them.
ADOPT A FAMILY
Individuals, Families, Groups & Workplaces Can Participate
Whether you adopt as an individual, rally your coworkers, bring together your family, or make it a project for your club or faith community, you can make the holidays special for a local family.
How Adopting a Family Works
1. Explore Available Families
Browse our Adopt a Working Family listings on GetConnected. Every family listed has completed the application and referral process and has been reviewed by United Way.
Each listing will share information to help you choose a family that is a good fit for you or your group, including their ZIP code, family size, ages and genders of family members, and gift ideas or needs for each person.
2. Choose & Claim Your Family
Found a family you'd like to adopt? Select that family's listing and register through GetConnected to claim them.
You'll need to log in to your existing GetConnected account or create a free account before you can complete the adoption. Once your registration is complete, that family will be claimed by you and removed from the list of families available for adoption.
Need help with GetConnected? Our Volunteer Center team is happy to help troubleshoot. Please keep in mind that families are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we cannot hold or reserve a family while account or registration issues are being resolved.
3. Shop With Care
Use the family's profile and gift ideas to guide your shopping. Their list is there to help you learn a little about each person and choose gifts that will make their holiday special.
You don't have to purchase every item listed. Think of their profile as a guide for shopping thoughtfully for the family you've chosen.
4. Keep Gifts Unwrapped
Please leave all gifts unwrapped so families can see and organize the items they receive.
You're welcome to include wrapping paper, gift bags, tape, bows, or other wrapping supplies so parents and caregivers can wrap gifts for their family.
5. Choose How Gifts Get to Your Family
When you adopt, you'll receive information about getting the gifts to the family.
Depending on your preference, you may choose to:
Bring the gifts to United Way and have our team coordinate pickup with the family, or
Deliver directly to the family if you'd like to personally coordinate the delivery.
We'll provide additional instructions and important deadlines so you know exactly what to expect.
6. We'll Take It From There
Once you've claimed your family, we'll help guide you through the rest of the process, answer questions, and make sure you have the information you need.
You shop. You give. Together, we make the holidays a little brighter for a local working family.
ARE YOU A FAMILY LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE?
Families cannot sign themselves up directly for Adopt a Working Family. Every participating family must first be connected to the program through a trusted community organization.
Referring organizations may include an employer, school, church, nonprofit organization, social service agency, or other community organization that knows the family and can confirm the referral.
How the Family Application Process Works
1. Connect with a referring organization.
A family may be identified by an organization they already have a relationship with, or they may ask an organization whether it is willing to refer them.
2. The referring organization receives the application link.
United Way provides the family application link directly to participating referring organizations. The link is not publicly posted.
3. The family completes the application.
The family, not the referring organization, completes their own application and provides the information needed for the program.
4. United Way verifies the referral.
After receiving the application, United Way's Volunteer Center will contact the referring organization by phone or email to confirm that the family was referred by them. The referring organization does not need to contact United Way first.
5. United Way reviews the application.
An application is not considered fully confirmed until the referral has been verified and program eligibility has been reviewed.
FAMILY ELIGIBILITY
To participate, families must meet the program's eligibility requirements, including:
At least one member of the household must be working.
At least one child under age 18 must live in the household.
The family must live in Muskegon, Newaygo, or Oceana County.
The family must be referred by an employer, school, church, nonprofit, social service agency, or other trusted community organization.
The family cannot participate in another holiday family adoption program during the same holiday season.
Families may not participate in United Way of the Lakeshore's Adopt a Working Family Program for more than three consecutive years.
Families must provide reliable contact information and respond to program communications.
FOR REFERRING ORGANIZATIONS
You know the families in our community.
Employers, schools, churches, nonprofits, social service agencies, and other community organizations can help United Way identify working families who could benefit from additional support this holiday season.
United Way will provide participating referring organizations with the private family application link beginning October 9. Once you have identified a family and spoken with them about the program, you may share that link directly with the family so they can complete their application.
You do not need to complete the application for the family or contact United Way to confirm the referral immediately. After the family applies, United Way's Volunteer Center will contact you to verify that your organization made the referral.
Please do not publicly post or broadly distribute the family application link.
2026 FAMILY APPLICATION TIMELINE
Family applications open October 9, 2026.
Applications will remain open until 50 family applications have been received and confirmed or December 1, 2026, whichever comes first.
Because space is limited, receiving or completing an application does not guarantee participation. United Way must verify the referral and confirm that the household meets program requirements before a family is accepted.
Families should watch the email address and contact information provided on their application for updates from United Way's Volunteer Center.
Have A Question? Message Our Team?
United Way Contact
Primary Lead: Dave Elliot (he/him), Volunteer Center Coordinator | Email Here
Backup: Dom Bunker (she/her) , Senior Director of Community Solutions | Email Here
Have questions after you sign up or apply? We’re here to help.
FAQs
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Households in Muskegon, Newaygo, or Oceana counties with at least one working adult and a child under 18 (or expectant). Families are referred by an employer, school, or caseworker.
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Give within your means. Many adopters aim for $75–$150 per person, prioritizing essentials plus a small wish‑list item. Larger families can be paired with teams or corporate groups upon request.
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Yes—especially for groceries, gas, or general merchandise. Please activate cards and note amounts.
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Please do not pre‑wrap. Including wrapping supplies is encouraged so caregivers can personalize the experience.
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Yes. For safety and clarity: no weapons or weapon‑adjacent items (e.g., firearms, knives, ammunition, hunting equipment). Outdoor recreation items that are not weapons (e.g., fishing poles/lures, scent‑free soap, boots, gloves) are welcome.
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To protect privacy, adoptions are anonymous. United Way coordinates pickup or delivery; however, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis with approval from program staff.
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Absolutely. Make a donation and our team will purchase items aligned to each family’s needs. Click Here to Donate (For tax questions, please consult your advisor. Acknowledgment letters are available.)
Shop for wrapping supplies and stocking stuffers for the families in the program at our online wishlist: available here!
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Contact us right away so we can reassign the match. Timely communication ensures families still receive support.