Give or Receive!
Each year, families, businesses and groups of friends become holiday elves for families in need in the Greater Newburyport community. These families are our neighbors and friends. Some have children in the public schools or YWCA child care programs, some live in affordable housing, some are struggling to make ends meet.
Newburyport Rec and Youth Services and the YWCA feel strongly that everyone should have a joyous holiday season. We need your help to make that happen. We are looking for elves that will fulfill the wishes of a family or will help us make holiday wishes come true in other ways.
We have been running this heartwarming, successful program for over 10 years! Our team works really hard to make this an organized, fun and joyous experience for our volunteer elves. We hope that we can continue to work our magic this year as you make the decision to spread joy.
Learn more below and please see our FAQs, listed in the files below.
Give
Family to family is now excepting Elf sign ups! You can sign up as an individual or group, or asked to be paired with someone else. Our elves are asked to provide one wish and one need for each member of the family they are matched with. You can also sign up to be an elf to provide gift cards and/or stockings. Gift cards for groceries, clothing and other shopping can be dropped off the the YWCA, Market Street. Please put in an envelope with your name and contact info. *You can also make a tax-deductible financial donation to Family to Family (and we will do the shopping)!
If you would like to make a cash donation, please do so through the YWCA Greater Newburyport here. All donations are used to support families and make sure needs are met. Any funds left over are used throughout the year to support families in crisis.
Please fill out our Elf Interest Form and we will contact you!
Receive
Due to organizational capacity and increased holiday assistance availability in surrounding towns, Family to Family will again be serving families in Newburyport and families living in YWCA Greater Newburyport housing. For families in surrounding towns whom we have served in the past, we have community partners able to provide holiday assistance this year and we can help connect you (please go to the bottom of the page for more information).
We want to make your holidays really special. Please complete the Family Wish List and one of our social work team members, Trish or will contact you. Please include all family members in your household, including adults!
You will answer a few questions about your family and then have the chance to complete a section about each family member. At the end is a space to tell us anything else that you want us to know!
You will then be matched with elves who will work to fulfill a wish and a need for each family member!
Please complete the Family Wishlist online or call 978-572-6189 to complete your application over the phone.
For our non-resident and non-ywca housing families, if you are a resident of:
- Salisbury: Please connect with The Salvation Army (online app or call 978-465-0883) or Salisbury Santa’s Helpers Program (info@salisburysantashelpers.com)
- Amesbury: Please connect with Amesbury Holiday Program (978-388-0626)
- Newbury: Please connect with The Salvation Army (online app or call 978-465-0883) or Community Service of Newburyport (978-465-7562)
- West Newbury: Please connect with The Salvation Army (online app or call 978-465-0883) or Community Service of Newburyport (978-465-7562)
- Rowley: Please connect with The Salvation Army (online app or call 978-465-0883)
If you need help getting connected with a new holiday assistance program, please reach out to Trish at familytofamilyholiday@gmail.com
*If you miss your town’s deadline, please reach out to The Pettengill House (978-463-8801)
Visit Family to Family Holiday Program | newburyportma to learn more.
