If you’re looking for a way that your family or group can make an impact this holiday season (or any other time throughout the year!) ADRA’s gift catalog is perfect for you. If you’ve given a gift through our catalog before, you know that it’s an amazing way to show support to the most vulnerable and you can make an even bigger impact by giving together with a group.
This is also a really great way to get children involved and show them how they can change the world by giving. And don’t forget the free coloring pages, gift tags, and honor cards available when you give through ADRA’s gift catalog!
Why Give as a Group?
This is not just about the ability to give more as a group, it’s about turning giving into a transformative community experience. We love to hear from families, churches, classes, businesses, and other groups who have made giving gifts through ADRA’s gift catalog a holiday tradition, and many ADRA staff have the same tradition with our own families and groups!
Choosing gifts is such a great way to break through the consumerism that can so easily take over holidays and events, and to put heart and generosity into your gift giving. For groups and families, it’s such a great opportunity for conversation and putting the focus on God’s love.
Who Can Give?
Don’t worry about whether your group is big enough—groups of every size can give together and make an impact!
We’ve heard from an elementary school class who were growing their own garden, so wanted to share a garden with others; a mother and daughter who were moved to help keep kids safe; nurses who wanted to share medical care with the most vulnerable.
Consider the following groups in your life:
- Family
- Church or Sabbath School class
- School or individual classroom
- Adventurer or Pathfinder Club
- Book club, running club, or other community group
- Coworkers or customers
If you are a church or school interested in fundraising, let our team know at church@ADRA.org.
How Do We Give?
Every group is unique, so have a conversation upfront to decide how you want to fundraise. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Keep it Simple
Every group is unique and every person within a group is also unique, so make sure that whatever method you use to fundraise works for everyone and isn’t too complicated. If you’re organizing your campaign during the busy holiday season.
We suggest having a point person to collect the funds, follow up with group members and keep everyone excited. Maybe that’s you?
Make it Personal
Whether you choose one gift as a group or let members choose their own, it’s a lot more special when you give a gift that means something to you. We’ve had churches in farming communities share the gift of gardens to another community, elementary school classes who gave the gift of education to other children, and families choose to support children without a family of their own.
Finding something special for you and your group makes gift giving even better!
Have Some Fun!
For groups that choose to do fundraisers, it’s no coincidence that some of the most successful campaigns are the ones that got the most creative. We’re talking about yard sales, bake sales, fun runs, movie nights, and sooooo much more.
People love to write their name on an ornament to add to a church or school Christmas tree when they contribute, and you can’t go wrong with a holiday bake sale that also feeds hungry children! If you’re giving the gift of water, what about hosting a water walk where people sponsor participants for each lap, they can carry a heavy bucket of water around a track or parking lot.
Whatever you do, make sure it’s simple, special, and fun—and be sure to let us know all about it!
How Do We Send Our Donation?
Whether you all support the same gift or let members fundraise/donate for whichever gift they choose, we want to recognize and thank you as a group.
There are a few ways to share your support with ADRA:
- Send your group’s contribution in one check. If your group’s name is not on the check, please include it on the memo line or on the gift catalog order form.
- Send multiple checks together in one envelope with the group details. Again, please make sure your group details are included either on the gift catalog order form or with an enclosed note.
- Submit your donation online at ADRA.org/giftcatalog.
You can send your check(s) to ADRA International at the following address:
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
If you have questions, email hello@ADRA.org or call 1.800.424.ADRA (2372).
