Holiday Programs 2025
Holiday Programs 2025
It is the time of year for our annual Holiday Programs including, Thanksgiving Baskets, Adopt-A-Family, and The Giving Trees!
ο»ΏLast year, over 500 families were gifted food and generous gifts for the holidays from our incredible donors.
Far too many Meriden and Wallingford families are struggling to afford basic necessities ahead of the holidays such as food, clothing, toiletries, household items and more! Our community needs YOU to help create positive memories this holiday season. Be the reason to make children and their parents smile! Below are all the details for each program.
Please do not hesitate to contact Julia Pelletier by e-mailing jpelletier@unitedwaymw.org OR by calling the United Way office (203) 235-4403 with questions.
Thanksgiving Baskets
This Thanksgiving, put together a food basket, bundle or bag for a family in need!
We suggest filling your bundle with enough nonperishable food for at least 4 people and kindly include a gift card for the family to buy their poultry of choice for their holiday table.
WHAT TO DO DONATE:
- Canned corn
- Canned squash
- Canned/box potatoes
- Canned carrots
- Green bean casserole ingredients
- Gravy
- Mac & cheese
- Corn bread mix
- Cranberry sauce
- Dessert mix
- $20 gift card to purchase poultry (Please keep in mind the price of Turkeys for your generous gift card)
- Anything you think a family will enjoy!
πHOW TO SIGN-UP:
Please contact Julia Pelletier by e-mailing: jpelletier@unitedwaymw.org
or calling (203) 235-4403 ext.1002
with the number of baskets you would like to put together, your contact information, and any questions you may have!
AFTER SIGN-UP:
Once you sign up to provide a basket, we will work on connecting you with one of our community nonprofit or agency partners via email to coordinate a
drop-off by π Wednesday, November 19th
to their facility so they can then give the food to a family in need in time for Thanksgiving.
Adopt-a-family
Companies, groups, individuals, and families can “Adopt-A-Family” this holiday season by purchasing items from the family’s “Wish List” which further includes the ages, genders, and sizes of each family member to help with your shopping. Each list includes various clothing, toiletries, toys, food & household items wishes for each family member.
Please note that all families will include parent(s) AND children.
πHOW TO SIGN-UP: Kindly, fill out the form linked below to pick the size of the (anonymous) family in need you would like to adopt. The form includes all the details on the basic guidelines of this program. You may help more than one family.
Write in the number of families and sizes of the families on your form and return the form to Julia Pelletier at jpelletier@unitedwaymw.org by π Tuesday, December 2nd
Returning the form as soon as possible so we can ensure that more families will have gifts this year
**We are requesting this year that the items be delivered to the agencies on or before
π
Friday, December 12th. **
AFTER SIGN-UP: After your sign-up form is returned, United Way will work on finding a match and then share the family’s Wish List with you via email, along with the person of contact at the partner agency they are clients of.
Our United Way is accepting gift card donations (Walmart, Target, Visa, Amazon) as well to put towards donations for individuals and families through this program.
Giving Trees
COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!! A program in partnership with our friends at The Meriden Mall
The Giving Trees are a display at the Meriden Mall with tags of anonymous children and adults’ item(s) they are wishing for the holidays! 100s of tags are hung on the trees for you to pick and then shop for the item on the tag.
Each tag includes one person in need’s wish. You may pick as many tags as you would like to fulfill. Once you are done purchasing the item(s) on the tag, you can drop off the unwrapped gift with the corresponding tag to the Mall Management Office or the Security office. Check out the trees in front of TJ Maxx.
