Adopt a Family

Adopt a Family through the and make the holidays a little brighter!

For more than 30 years, the Branford Counseling Center has been offering holiday presents to Branford citizens in need. Through their Adopt a Family program, donators can be matched with individual families and purchase gifts for children of all ages. 

While it can be most exciting to be matched with a young child, Counseling Center director Pat Andriole said the need to adopt teenage children is the greatest. Some suggested gifts for teenagers include gift cards and clothes. Though electronics will be on every child's list, said Andriole, it is not necessary for those adopting to feel they need to purchase high-priced items. 

Suggested gifts for younger children include toys and clothing – size, age, gender of child will be provided when you adopt.

The center said their need for presents will be greater than ever this year and they are expecting 250-275 families to sign-up – that's more than 400 children to be placed on the list for gifts.

To become matched with a family or to receive gifts, call 203-481-4248 or stop by the Counseling Center at 342 Harbor St., Branford, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

You can also donate individual unwrapped gifts to Chandler Fowler who will be collecting them around town in the  and on December 11 on the Town Green; she will deliver these gifts to the Counseling Center to help supplement the match program. 

You can also donate to the center's Basic Needs program, which provides rent and utility assistance to Branford families as well emergency shelter needs.