Opportunities / Adopt-A-College Student Application
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Adopt‑A‑College Student
A Christmas program just for college students who live and study in New Jersey. Apply, share your wish list, and a caring sponsor may adopt it.
Applications are open now!
Apply NowOnly 500 applications will be accepted. Applications close when all 500 spots fill.
Need a hand with the application? Call (908) 509-7699 and our team will gladly help.
An Important Change for All Applicants
Effective October 27, 2026, Operation Holiday® asks every applicant for the last 4 digits of the Social Security number (or ITIN) of each person in the household. We never ask for the full number.
We’re doing this to protect the families we serve and the sponsors who give so generously. The last 4 digits help us make sure each person appears on only one application, so every gift goes to the household it was meant for. They also help us stop anyone who tries to apply more than once or under different names.
An application missing the last 4 digits for anyone in the household can’t be completed. Every number is kept private and seen only by Operation Holiday.
Thank you for helping us keep Operation Holiday fair and trustworthy for everyone.
Un cambio importante para todos los solicitantes
A partir del 27 de octubre de 2026, Operation Holiday® pide a cada solicitante los últimos 4 dígitos del número de Seguro Social (o ITIN) de cada persona del hogar. Nunca pedimos el número completo.
Lo hacemos para proteger a las familias que servimos y a los patrocinadores que dan con tanta generosidad. Los últimos 4 dígitos nos ayudan a asegurar que cada persona aparezca en una sola solicitud, para que cada regalo llegue al hogar al que fue destinado. También nos ayudan a detener a cualquiera que intente presentar más de una solicitud o usar nombres diferentes.
Una solicitud a la que le falten los últimos 4 dígitos de alguna persona del hogar no se puede completar. Cada número se mantiene privado y solo lo ve Operation Holiday.
Gracias por ayudarnos a mantener Operation Holiday justo y confiable para todos.
What you receive
If your application is approved, we post your story and wish list anonymously under your ID number. A caring sponsor may choose to adopt you, then buys and delivers your gifts directly, shipped or delivered to your home.
Your name, address, phone and email are never posted online. Only Operation Holiday® staff and the sponsor who adopts you see your details.
Please apply once. A photo ID and proof of enrollment are required. Our program runs on honesty, and some applications are chosen at random for full verification. Gift cards are welcome on a wish list; cash and jewelry are not.
Sponsors choose who they adopt. Operation Holiday® does not.
Please know: applying does not guarantee adoption. Accepted applicants are confirmed by email, and an adoption is final only when you receive an email from Operation Holiday®, sent after we have confirmed with your sponsor.