Heartwarming stories of Adopt-A-Shelter

As the holiday season begins, youths and adults in our SF community are exemplifying true holiday spirit and generosity by Adopting-A-Shelter yet again! Here are their stories:

“Christmas is a time of happiness and joy, and being able to spread that happiness by giving kids in need their dream presents for Christmas is a great feeling.

You are spreading the Christmas joy within your school community and for these kids!”

-- Shreya, Co-chair of UASF’s Youth Ambassador Corps.

"With the growing income disparities in our city, it is truly a blessing to be able to rally our community together in order to adopt a shelter in SF during the holidays. 

Our middle schoolers do bake sales and raise all the money for the gifts independently, which has really given them agency in the project. 

My son still talks about the project a year later, and is looking forward to coming together with his friends this year to raise the money for the gifts again. 

I like that Urban Angels matches you with a specific shelter and lets you know how many children and what ages. It is a very concrete way to bring extra joy to the less fortunate in our city during the holidays.”


--Rebecca Walsh, Director of Childhood Matters at Alta Vista School

UASF’s Adopt-A-Shelter program brings a deep level of connection between the gifters and the recipients.

Here’s how it works: You choose the number of children you want to adopt with your group (family, friends, organization), and we’ll help you connect directly with the shelter to deliver your gifts in 1 batch. sign up here!

If you want to participate in giving back to the children in another way besides Adopt-A-Shelter, here are 2 easy ways: you can make a donation (and we’ll buy the gifts), or you can shop the gift registry (and the gifts are delivered to UASF’s office). Spreading the word helps, too!

Thank you on behalf of these children and their families!