Adopt a Family

What is Adopt-A-Family?

Photos Below

Adopt a Family is Key and Builder's Clubs' biggest event held every year to help support the less fortunate in Mater's sister schools. This event is held during Christmas time where the members put together a party for these children. Alongside Key and Builder's Clubs, the school's other clubs and organizations, also participate by donating to the children.

To add to the festivities, Mater's Rock Band, The Salseros (salsa club), and the Lionettes (dancers) give a performance, and of course they are amazing. While the children are opening gifts, they are indulging themselves with hot chocolate, sweets, and pizza. Of course, no Christmas party is complete without SANTA. Key and Builder's Clubs want to give these children an experience they can carry with them forever.

How does Adopt-A-Family Work?

Key and Builder's Club work over 100 hours from September to December to make sure that this event is perfect for the children. The clubs work closely with the school's sister schools to get the names and information of at least 30-32 children.

The school wants to make sure that those children have a Christmas that they will never forget. Many of those children go home to an empty house or live in shelters. These children need necessities like clothes and shoes; things that we may take for granted.

The teachers in those schools find out what those children want and wish for Christmas. The mission of this event is to be able to grant those wishes to the best of our abilities.

To make sure that the kids get everything they want, Key and Builder's ask all other clubs and organizations in the school to participate. Each group "adopts" a child/family, receives a paper with the child's information, and the students in that group donate money and items to that child. This assures that the kids get a wonderful Christmas.

What happens the day of the Adopt-A-Family Event?

The day of the event, Key and Builder's Club members begin to crowd the school's Gymnasium to begin setting up. All members are assigned different tasks to make sure that things run smoothly. Members are moving between the cafeteria and the gym to set up snacks/breakfast, "Nice Lists" for the adopted children, set up Santa and his section in the gym, set up all other decor, and make sure each child has their section in the gym where they can open their gifts.

When the children arrive, they are escorted into the gym and sat with the club or organization that "adopted" them. Little do they know that they have a treat in store for them. When everyone is sat and ready, the Salseros (salsa club) dance and put on a wonderful performance. After that, the Lionettes (school dancers) blow everyone away with one of their beautiful Christmas performances. To end the show, Mater's Rock Band plays a few tunes. For this part of the show. Seeing the smiles on these children's faces brings such a warmth to your soul and a smile to your face.

Just when the kids think it is over, Santa walks through the door with his cheery "Ho, Ho, Ho". Some of the children are so happy they can't help but cry. While they are opening gifts, they have the chance to visit with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas; every child's dream at Christmas is to be able to see Santa and Key and Builder's Club has made that a reality for them.

The children then have the opportunity to play with their toys, dance, eat, and just have some plain old Christmas fun. Finally, the event ends with some cheesy pizza for lunch. Soon after that, the children go back to their schools and the club members are left to clean up the gymnasium, however it is done with a smile because it is a time to reflect on the good that was committed there that day.