The Catholic Charities of New Orleans (CCANO) Adopt-A-Family Program strives to bring the Holidays home by putting gifts under the Christmas trees of individuals and families every holiday season.

Steeg Law partnered with CCANO again in 2024 in order to reach those that would otherwise pass the season as unacknowledged days on the calendar in late December.

This year, we adopted a family of four selected from a list of potential adoptees provided by CCANO. Each staff person signed up for at least one family member to shop for. As partner participants, CCANO provided us with the gender and age of each family member, their sizes in clothing and shoes and any particular wish or wishes they might have. But, everyone was encouraged to improvise their purchases. Any staff person was free to coordinate their purchases with another staff person to avoid duplication.

Basic personal maintenance items, not so much toys and gifts, were the predominate request from our family this year. Having basic personal needs met is a gift under circumstances such as those many families find themselves living under. So, the staff fulfilled those basic requests but went above and beyond to make Christmas surprising and fun.

Age appropriate toys and clothing were purchased for the children. The adult head of household received requested home goods and supplies for her children, but also shoes, clothing and care items for her personal use. We delivered a total of nine large contractor bags filled with wrapped gifts. Fifty-one (51!) individual items were bagged and tagged.

Not to be outdone by staff, the attorneys at Steeg Law contributed a total of $600 which was used to purchase a gift card for our family. The coordinator at the CCANO drop off location was literally floored by what we were able to assemble for this one family.

We always “bring it” when it comes to Holiday giving here at Steeg Law, each and every year. A success by any measure.

Learn more about Catholic Charities Adopt-a-Family program >