2025 Adopt a Family program brings holiday joy, relief to families in need
By Joe Harris /
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OMAHA, Neb.—One by one, families in need walked into The Salvation Army of Omaha’s warehouse at 25th Avenue and Dodge streets, receiving large bags of toys.
It was part of the annual Adopt a Family program, which has been serving the Omaha metro since 2000. In 2025, the program’s distribution phase served local families over several days in mid-December.
“Families [first] come to The Salvation Army in the month of November, and they pre-sign up for Christmas assistance with The Salvation Army,” Maj. Dan Sawka said. “If a family is selected for Adopt a Family, then we align them with a donor, and that donor then provides toys for under the tree and food on the table."
The program’s goal is to ensure that every metro-area family has food on the table and presents under the tree at Christmastime.
Among those receiving toys – and a grocery-store gift card – at the Adopt A Family 2025 distribution event was foster parent Tyniece Harmon.
"I've got four boys, three girls—and so it's helpful because they want a lot," she said. "It's successful for the families, the kids, and it just helps out a lot."
"There's a lot of pressure this time of year,” another parent, Leslie Booker, said. “Being a single mom, recently laid off, I carry that weight a lot with three girls and managing the household. So this just feels like such a relief, such a blessing."
The tough times families are facing is something Maj. Sawka experienced as a child.
"One time, many, many years ago, my family had to be adopted because we had some things that happened,” he said. “And this is an impact that will go on in years to come."
Sawka also highlighted the community support that makes the program possible.
"We want to say thank you to our donors and our partners in the Omaha metro area. This is not doable without them. When a person sees the need, when they hear the commercials, when they see the red kettle collecting funds, this is what it goes to.
“It's the ability to be able to say to a young person or a family, 'We see you and we love you.'"