Ranked #29 nationally among charities that support military, Veterans, and their families.
SHARING THE JOY
STEP matches donors with military and Veteran families for the holidays. Our families complete a wish list for STEP to share with our generous donors. When you are already facing a financial crisis, the holidays can seem daunting. We are here to STEP
up for those families so they
can have a joyful holiday
without the extra financial burden.
"Thank you for blessing our family with this opportunity. For giving us the meaning of merry and Joy."
Donor
Help junior enlisted families feel the joy of the season by fulfilling their wish list. You (corporations, small businesses, work groups, neighborhoods, and individual families) bring smiles to so many faces when you adopt one or more families for the holidays. Click below to tell us how you want to help.
Go a STEP further and share with your family, friends, and social media about this program to so they can get involved!
Client
Need a little help with holiday gifts? Click below to apply. (Prior recipients – please scroll to the top of this page and click the blue “Apply for Assistance” box to complete the Financial Assistance Application instead of the Sharing the Joy application.”)
E1-E6 enlisted or recently transitioned Veteran families (within 18 months of separation)
*Priority will be given to E4 and below and to first time applicants.
Toy Drive Donations
Hover for Suggested Items
STEP will be accepting Toy Drive donations for families who are not adopted.
Donations Accepted 11/1/22 - 12/12/22
Monday -Friday
9am-2pm
9915 Businesspark Ave., Suite A, San Diego, CA 92131
Suggested
Items
-
Gift cards
-
Lego sets
-
L.O.L. Surprise!
-
Coloring Books
-
Dolls/Barbies
-
Hot wheels
-
Musical toys
-
Scooters
-
Nerf toys
-
Board games
-
Building toys
-
Star Wars toys
-
Sports Items
-
Arts & Crafts
FAQ's
How do the donors know what to buy?
The families will complete a wish list and STEP will provide the donors with their adopted families' list. The donor will also be provided with an Amazon list that is curated with options from the wish list items. We recommend spending an average of $75 per family member, with each individual gift being no more than $30. The goal is for each member of the family to receive more than one gift.
How will the items be delivered?
Donors using the Amazon list will be able to send the items directly to STEP for both Southern California and Washington State. The account is set up so the items will only be delivered during our business hours. If you would like to drop-off items we are accepting donations at 9915 Businesspark Ave, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92131 between 9AM - 2PM Monday - Friday.
*For Washington donors that would like to drop off, please contact Kristen DeArmond at kristen.dearmond@teamstepusa.org
What if I want to participate but can't adopt a whole family?
STEP is accepting toy donations for our annual Toy Drive. You can drop off items at 9915 Businesspark Ave, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92131 between 9AM - 2PM Monday - Friday, or drop off at any of our collaborating partners. If you would like to become a collection partner, click here. Share with your company, family, or friends.
How do you decide who gets adopted?
Great question. This program is limited to E1-E6, or transitioning Veterans up to 18 months of departure. Priority is placed on E5 and below, and on families that have never been adopted before.
Can I see where our donations go?
STEP will be hosting a Sharing the Joy Parade for our clients to pick up their holiday gifts. We will posting videos and photos across all social media platforms @teamstepusa in December. Stay tuned for updates.
How else can I help?
Help us spread the word about Sharing the Joy by sharing information with your family, friends, and coworkers. You can show them how they can get involved, with this toolkit!