FAQs - Share Our Selves

FAQs
What do we need to provide if we adopt a family?
If you adopt a family, we ask that you provide both Christmas gifts & dinner. You may choose the family
size you want, but you must provide at least two new gifts for each child (you may provide more if you’d
like, and may also include something for the adults, but this is not required). Gift cards to stores like
Payless Shoes and Target are also fine. When providing Christmas dinner, please buy gift cards for frozen
goods, turkeys and perishables and purchase other holiday food items or consider providing gift cards
for a complete Christmas dinner. Fresh produce and extra food are always welcome.
What does it mean to provide Christmas dinner?
This is very simple. You can purchase gift cards to local grocery stores, and/or provide canned goods,
produce, and other non-perishables for your “adopted” family to prepare their own Christmas dinner.
Food gift cards can be purchased from Stater Bros, Ralphs, or Food4Less – all have locations close to our
“adopted” families. We suggest a modest amount of at least $10 per family member if you decide to
provide only gift cards. Some donors provide both food items, and gift cards. Retail Visa or MasterCard
gift cards can also be purchased at stores such as Rite-Aid, CVS, or other national retailers. Please avoid
bank-issued gift cards because of the fees for use and expiration date.
Grocery Store Gift Card Information
In some cases the family may specify a specific store where they do their grocery shopping. Donors may
want to purchase gift cards from those stores. We have listed the most common stores and their
locations. If no specific store is mentioned by the family we recommend Ralphs, Food4Less or Stater
Bros.
Food4Less & Ralphs
There are two Food4Less grocery stores in Santa Ana. They are owned by Kroger, which is also the
parent company of Ralphs, so Ralphs gift cards can be used at Food4Less. Some Ralphs gift cards have
SOS • 1550 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • 949.270.2187 • Fax: 949.515.5804 • AAF2015@shareourselves.org
the logo of all Kroger stores on the back of the card. These are best for AAF so that the family can see
that they do not have to go to a Ralphs to use the gift cards. Gift cards are available in any amount.
Food4Less - 315 E. 1st near Main, Santa Ana
Food4Less - 2140 S. Bristol near Warner, Santa Ana
There are Ralphs stores located throughout Orange County.
https://www.ralphs.com/storeLocator?hash=findStoreLink
Stater Bros.
Stater Bros. gift cards are available in denominations of: $10.00, $15.00, $25.00, $50.00 or $100.00.
Stater Bros. are located throughout Orange County.
http://www.staterbros.com/TopMenu/Store-Locator.aspx
Northgate Markets
There are 6 Northgate Markets in Santa Ana. They have gift cards that can be of any denomination.
770 S. Harbor near McFadden, Santa Ana
1010 S. Main near McFadden, Santa Ana
1120 S. Bristol @ McFadden, Santa Ana
230 N. Harbor near First, Santa Ana
409 E. 4th @ French, Santa Ana
1623 W. 17th Street @ College, Santa Ana
El Super grocery
There are 2 El Super grocery stores in Santa Ana. They have gift cards in $25 increments.
3700 W. McFadden @ S. Harbor (Walmart Plaza), Santa Ana
2445 S. Bristol between Central and Warner, Santa Ana
Superior Grocer (formerly La Superior grocery)
There are 3 Superior Grocer stores in Santa Ana. Gift cards are available in any amount and can be used
at any of the 3 stores.
1720 E. 17th between Tustin and N. Grand, Santa Ana
1710 S. Main between Edinger and St. Andrew, Santa Ana
2009 W. First between Fairview and Bristol, Santa Ana
Do you have more gift card ideas?
Gift cards to local stores are very helpful, especially for teenagers and parents. Some stores to consider
include: Target, Shoe City, Old Navy, Forever 21, Walmart and Toys-R-Us.
Do you have suggestions on where to purchase school uniforms?
School uniforms are plain white tops with long or short sleeves and a collar (polo shirts or buttoned),
navy blue or khaki (tan) bottoms, and plain navy blue sweaters/sweatshirts unless otherwise specified
on the Donor Agreement.
SOS • 1550 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • 949.270.2187 • Fax: 949.515.5804 • AAF2015@shareourselves.org
The schools have provided these names of stores that sell school uniforms.
Factory 2 U / Fallas
Factory 2 U / Fallas usually has school uniforms. They sell gift cards and offer gift receipts. They have 5
locations in Orange County.
Factory 2-U
1360 W. EDINGER AVENUE
SANTA ANA
Fallas Paredes
201 W. 4TH STREET
SANTA ANA
Factory 2-U
9691 CHAPMAN AVENUE
GARDEN GROVE
Fallas Paredes
2230 E. LINCOLN AVE
ANAHEIM
Factory 2-U
137 ORANGEFAIR MALL
FULLERTON
http://www.factory2-u.com/
Old Navy
Sears
Target
Walmart
Many stores have website availability when not available in store.
There is nothing unique about the school uniforms they just require specific colors. Any store you find
white tops and navy blue or tan bottoms is acceptable. We always suggest you include the gift receipt.
How do we sign up to adopt a family?
There are three ways: mail the tear-off form from the SOS Adopt A Family mailing, download the Donor
Sign-Up Form from the website and fax to 949.515.5804, or email to AAF2015@shareourselves.org. No
donor forms can be accepted after Wednesday, December 9.
Which family can I adopt?
We have families of many sizes from a single parent with one child to large blended families with as
many as 3-6 adults and 1-12 children sharing an apartment. We try to fill any special requests such as
“single dad,” “cancer patient,” “young girls,” “boys 7 and 9,” “no teenagers,” or “veterans.” Please list
your special request on the donor form and we will do our best to find a family that meets your request.
SOS • 1550 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • 949.270.2187 • Fax: 949.515.5804 • AAF2015@shareourselves.org
When will I find out who my family is?
We will begin sending donors the information on their “adopted” family after November 12. We will
email, fax or mail the information to you as you indicated on the donor form.
What is the delivery day this year?
Delivery day will be Thursday, December 17, 2015, at the OC Fair & Event Center, between 8:00am and
11:00am. Donors must drop off in the morning since recipient organization pick-ups begin shortly
thereafter. Those adopting 4 or more families will need to deliver on the 15th or 16th and will be
contacted to arrange a delivery time.
How can I volunteer to help with Adopt A Family?
We need volunteers from December 15 through December 17 at the OC Fair & Event Center. Volunteers
are needed for set up, wrapping gifts, packing boxes for the families not adopted by a specific donor,
unloading donors’ cars, delivering boxes to the schools and other recipient organizations, and much
more. If you would like to volunteer, you must register with us ahead of time. Interested volunteers
should send an email to Rudy Ramos at rramos@shareourselves.org or call 949.270.2197.
We also need assistance from October 13 through December 11 to help with administrative work.
Please send us an email rramos@shareourselves.org or give us a call at 949.270.2197 if you are
interested in volunteering before December 11.
Can I give you the name of a family that wants to be adopted?
SOS only works with families referred directly to us by Costa Mesa and Santa Ana organizations and
schools. Families wanting to receive holiday gifts need to call 211, the countywide social services referral
agency.
What if I am going to be out of town on the delivery day?
If you need to drop off your gifts early, we do allow a drop off on the 14th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the
15th, or 16th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can also call and speak to Julie Askelson at 949.270.2187.
If you need to drop off early, do not bring any perishables; bring a grocery gift card instead.
SOS • 1550 Superior Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 • 949.270.2187 • Fax: 949.515.5804 • AAF2015@shareourselves.org