However, you may still adopt a family. If you want to make this holiday season truly memorable, stop by the office, and adopt a family.

If you have any questions, please call, email, or stop by. Our contact information can be found at the bottom of the page.

Each year the Hunger and Health Coalition coordinates two holiday programs for Watauga county clients. The Sharing Tree and Senior Sharing Tree programs identify and collect needs lists from area families and seniors and provide those to community residents interested in helping the less fortunate during the holidays.

In order to qualify for the program, families and seniors must have received service from the Hunger and Health Coalition within the last year or be referred by a partner agency. Those signing up provide wish lists for each child in the home 17 and under, and seniors 65 and older. The Hunger and Health Coalition then acts as a matching agent between those in need and those willing to help. People from the community select a family, purchase items from the needs list, and then deliver the gifts, along with enough groceries to prepare a holiday meal, to the family's home.

According to Client Services Coordinator Kim Winebarger, “This program allows people in the community to actively and directly assist people in need. Many of those who “adopt” Sharing Tree families and seniors say that this has become an important part of their holiday tradition. It provides a way for them to demonstrate to their children that the holidays are about more than just shopping and acquiring more material things.”

Anyone wishing to sign up their family or senior must do so by November 15th. Simply contact the Hunger and Health Coalition at (828)262-1628 for more information.

“Adopting a family through the Sharing Tree Program is a simple process,” says Ms. Winebarger. “Anyone interested just needs to stop by the office at 141 Health Center Drive, look through the family requests, and select a family or senior to help. It only takes about 15 minutes to decide to make someone’s holiday a little brighter.” The Hunger and Health Coalition offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30am until 4:30pm. If you are interested in learning more about the Sharing Tree and Senior Sharing Tree programs, please contact the Hunger and Health Coalition at (828)262-1628, or email us at info@hungercoalition.com