What does it mean to be a sponsor?

A sponsor is an individual, group, or organization that signs up to provide for an entire family. They choose what size family they would like to sponsor (usually 2 to 6). We then provide them with the names, ages, and sizes of the family members that we receive from the Salvation Army. Sponsors are responsible for providing non-perishable food items, a gift certificate for perishable items from a local grocery store, and gifts for each member of the family. They then bring the packages to us at Madison House for us to distribute to their family.

How much does it cost to sponsor a family?

Here are the price ranges for sponsoring a family:

What sponsors can expect from us

All sponsors will receive a letter before Thanksgiving with the following information:
- Their family's names and ages
- A suggested gift and food list
- The package requirements, due date, and package assembly information
- An inventory sheet

When is the deadline to sign up?

The last day to sign up to become a sponsor is November 13th.

If you decide that you would like to sponsor a family, we have 2 ways that you can contact us to sign up:
- Email us at holsharing@madisonhouse.org, with your name, organization, address, telephone number, and the size of the family you would like to sponsor.
- Call us at (434) 977-7051 between 9AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday, and a volunteer will sign you up.

Frequently Asked Questions from Sponsors

We have used items, can we donate it to our family?
The items donated to the family should be new; however, if there are other items that you would like to donate to your family, please bring them into Madison House in a separate bag or box.

Will extra food or gifts for our family be given to other families with less food/gifts?
Absolutely not! The package you create for your family will go directly to your family. No extra food or gifts will be removed.

Where do we bring our packages, and when?
Please bring them directly to Madison House, where volunteers will assist you in bringing them in, along with collecting the inventory sheet and gift card. This bulk of this will take place on November 30, December 1 or 2. Madison House is located at 170 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

What grocery stores are we supposed to get gift cards from?
You may get a gift card from any grocery store you want, however, we recommend Food Lion or Kroger because the food is cheaper and your family will get the most from their gift card.

We did not know what to get for the adults so we just put a gift card, is that okay?
Yes, gift cards are okay for adults.