Holiday Sharing Program

I received my match. What should I do first?

Once you receive your match, please contact the family or senior directly using the phone number and email we provide. Introduce yourself as their donor through the Holiday Sharing Program and explain what you have been matched to provide.

We ask that you make contact as soon as possible. If you are unable to reach your match, please notify us right away, as we may need to rematch you.

During your conversation, you may:

• Discuss preferences related to food or gifts (if applicable)
• Coordinate a delivery or pickup date and time

The family has children older than the ones listed. Am I expected to provide gifts for them too? 
No. The program has a gift age cutoff of 15 years old. You are only matched to provide gifts for the children listed in your match information. You are welcome to provide for older children if you choose, but this is completely optional. 

The gift suggestions include high-priced items, electronics, or things I’m not comfortable giving. What should I do? 
You are not required to purchase any specific item. What you provide is entirely based on your comfort level. We suggest a budget of $25–$50 per child, but this is only a guideline.

Am I expected to purchase everything on the child’s wishlist? 
No. The wishlist is provided solely as a guide and reflects suggestions from the family. You may select one or more items at your discretion.

What if no gift ideas or sizes were listed for the child? 
You have two options:

• Ask the family directly when you contact them, or
• Purchase age-and gender-appropriate gifts of your choosing

Should I wrap the gifts? 
That is entirely up to you. Gifts maybe wrapped, unwrapped, or you may choose to include wrapping paper for the family. 

Do I provide gifts to seniors? 
No. The program does not provide gifts for seniors. Senior matches focus primarily on food support.

Do I provide a cooked meal or groceries? 
This is up to you. You may offer a cooked meal, groceries, or ask the family or senior which option they prefer.

What type of food should I provide? 
Along with your match, you will receive food guidelines with suggested items. These are only recommendations. Final selections may be based on preferences discussed with the family or senior.

Can I provide a gift card instead of food? 
Yes. Gift cards are acceptable. We recommend choosing a grocery store that is conveniently located near the family or senior.

Why am I contacting the family and meeting them directly? 
Direct contact allows for meaningful, respectful interactions and helps strengthen community connections. It also ensures preferences and logistics are handled smoothly. 

What if I don’t want to drop items off directly with the family or senior? 
That is completely okay. You may drop items off at our Annapolis office (80 West Street) during normal business hours.

Please ensure: 

• Items are dropped off by one week prior to the holiday 
• All items are clearly labeled with your name and the matched family or senior’s name

This allows us adequate time to distribute items before the holiday. 

What if my availability changes after I’ve scheduled a delivery or pickup? 
Please notify the family or senior as soon as possible and communicate with us if needed. Clear communication helps avoid missed deliveries and delays.

What if I can’t get in touch with my family or senior? 
If you are unable to reach your match using the contact information provided, please email us. We will attempt to contact them on your behalf. 
 
If neither you nor our staff can reach them, your match may need to be reassigned. Please do not begin shopping until contact has been made.

I signed up for one holiday or item, but the family is asking about others. Am I responsible for those too? 
No. You are only responsible for what you signed up to provide. This may mean the family has another donor who has not yet reached out or has not yet been matched.

I signed up but can no longer be a donor. What should I do? 
Please email us as soon as possible so we can unmatch you and reassign the family or senior. 

I signed up but haven’t received my match yet. Why? 
We match Thanksgiving donors before Christmas donors. Due to this prioritization, Christmas matches may not be sent until late November. 

What happens if you’re unable to match me with my preferences? 
If we are unable to match you based on your selected preferences, we will contact you with alternative options (such as a different household size or location). While we try our best, exact matches cannot be guaranteed.

I already signed up and would like to provide for another family or senior. Do I need to submit another application? 
No. As long as you are comfortable with the same household size and area, simply email us with the number of households you would like to support, and we will update your match accordingly.

Do I have to spend the suggested budget? 
No. The suggested budget is only a guideline. Any contribution is meaningful and appreciated. 

Do I need to notify the program after completing my donation? 
No formal confirmation is required, but completing your donation by the stated deadline helps ensure families receive items on time. 

Are donations tax-deductible? 
The Holiday Sharing Program does not provide tax receipts. Please consult a tax professional for guidance. 

When Will I Receive My Match? 
We do our best to match donors as quickly as possible. Due to the high volume of the Holiday Sharing Program, please allow our team time to review applications and send your match. 
 
Donor applications are received on a rolling basis. We must first complete Thanksgiving matches before we can begin matching for Christmas. 
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Safety Reminder: 
Please always arrange deliveries during daylight hours, meet in safe locations, and maintain respectful interactions with families and seniors. 

How do I know if my application went through? 
You will receive a confirmation email shortly after submitting your application. Please keep this email until after the holidays, as we may need it to help locate your application if questions arise. 

Can I submit more than one application if I’m not sure it was accepted? 
No. Only one application per email address is allowed. If you received a confirmation email, your application was successfully submitted. 

It says my application was accepted, but I haven’t received anything. What does that mean? 
While we do our very best to assist all eligible applicants, participation is not guaranteed. This is a donor-based program, and the number of households we can assist depends on donor availability each year. 
 
I’m trying to submit my application, but I’m receiving an error message and cannot complete it. What should I do?
An error message usually means that a required field is missing. 

If you are applying as a family and entered information about your children, please make sure you also complete the Gift Ideas section for each child. 

To find this section, scroll to the end of the child’s information using the gray scroll bar located just above the “Add New” button. 

Applying on a phone? Try turning your phone sideways into landscape mode. This may make it easier to see all of the available fields and options. 

I received an email saying my application needs to be updated because my information did not match the list of pre-approved households. What does this mean? 
This email means that we received your application and you do not need to submit another one. 

Our system was not able to automatically verify that you are currently receiving SNAP or TCA benefits through Anne Arundel County, so our team will need to verify your eligibility manually. 

Please be patient while we work through the applications. This process may take some time due to the number of applications we receive. 

Once we have reviewed your information, you will receive another email letting you know whether we were able to confirm your eligibility for the program. 
 
Please do not submit another application while you are waiting. Submitting another application may cause your application to appear as a duplicate and could delay the verification process.

Does one application cover both Thanksgiving and Christmas? 
Yes. One application is used to determine eligibility for both holidays. However, approval does not guarantee assistance for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Matching is based on donor availability. 

I haven’t heard anything about my application. Can I check my status? 
You may check the status of your application one week prior to the holiday you applied for. We ask that you wait until that time, as changes occur frequently during the matching process and we want to provide the most up-to-date information. 
 
My friend or family member was matched, but I wasn’t. Why? 
Matching is based on donor availability and household needs. Each application is reviewed individually, and matches are not guaranteed for all applicants—even if others you know have already been matched.

When is the application due? 
The application deadline is November 1st each year. This is a hard deadline. Applications submitted after this date are not eligible, and no exceptions can be made. 

I missed the deadline. What can I do now? 
Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions. We recommend reaching out to local churches or community organizations that may offer similar programs with later deadlines.

I don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. Is that a problem? 
Yes. During the months of November and December, it is extremely important that you answer calls from unknown numbers. This is how donors and program staff will contact you. 

If donors and staff are unable to reach you, your match may be canceled and reassigned. Donors may leave a voicemail—please return calls as soon as possible. 

What if my phone number or email changes after I apply? 
You must notify us immediately if your contact information changes. If we are unable to reach you, your match may be canceled.

How do I know if I qualify for this program? 
To qualify, you must: 

• Be a resident of Anne Arundel County, and 
• Be either: 
  • A senior citizen (65+), or 
  • A family household with at least one child age 17 or under, and 
• Be currently receiving SNAP benefits 

The application asks for my CASE ID number. What is that and how do I get it? 
Your CASE ID is associated with your SNAP benefits and can be found on official SNAP correspondence or by contacting your local Department of Social Services.

Why do I need to provide information about my children to receive gifts? 
If you are requesting gifts, you must complete the section listing your children’s name, gender, and birthdate. Providing additional details is optional. 

What is the cut-off age for children to receive gifts? 
Children must be 15 years old or younger at the time of application to receive gifts. Once a child turns 16, they are considered an adult for gift purposes but are still counted for the food portion of the program. 

I am a senior. Can I request gifts for my grandchildren? 
No. You may only request gifts for children if you have legal custody and they are listed on your SNAP account. Otherwise, you may request the food portion only.

Are there any items I cannot ask for? 
Yes. You may not request: 

• Expensive Electronics 
• Large or high-ticket items 
• Inappropriate or unsafe gifts

Requests for prohibited items may result in your application being revoked for the current program year. 

Can I choose my donor or request specific items? 
No. Donors are assigned by the program. While you may list preferences, specific items cannot be guaranteed.

My donor said they are only providing one of the items I requested. Does that mean I won’t receive the others? 
Not necessarily. While additional support cannot be guaranteed, it is possible to be matched with more than one donor for different items or holidays. 

How and when will I receive my items if I am matched? 
Donors may deliver items directly, arrange a pickup, or drop items off with the program for distribution. You will receive specific instructions once you are matched. 

What if I cannot attend my assigned pickup or distribution date? 
If you are unable to attend your assigned date, a make-up distribution date will be available. Please note that make-up dates may involve longer wait times due to higher volume.

Who do I contact if I have questions? 
Please email community.programs@maryland.gov or 410-269-4462. Due to high volume during the holiday season, response times may be longer than usual.