ApplicantFAQ’sOperation Holiday at Home®
Clear answers for New Jersey families who are applying for Christmas assistance.
Your Questions
Tap a question to open the answer.
Who can apply for Operation Holiday at Home®?
Any New Jersey head of household who needs Christmas assistance may apply. Only the head of household applies for the family.
When can I apply?
The 2026 Adopt-A-Family application opened on October 1, 2026, and all of our spots, for at least 150 families, are now filled. You can still apply for one of our open opportunities, if your household qualifies, or join the Waitlist.
When will I know if I was accepted?
Accepted applicants are confirmed by November 15, 2026.
Can I submit more than one application?
No. A head of household may submit only one application. A second application is denied, with no exceptions.
Does applying guarantee that my family will be adopted?
No. Operation Holiday® does not decide who is adopted. Sponsors choose the family they adopt, and the choice belongs to them alone. We cannot promise an adoption and we cannot change a sponsor’s choice.
Sponsors choose. Operation Holiday® does not decide.How will sponsors see my family?
After you are accepted, your family appears as an anonymous public listing. Sponsors see only your Family ID, your city and state, your story and your complete wish list.
Is my personal information kept private?
Yes. Your name, address, phone number and email are never posted online. Once a sponsor pledges to adopt your family, Operation Holiday® privately emails the sponsor your family’s details so the gifts can be delivered.
What is a Family ID?
It is the anonymous number that stands in for your family, in the format NJ-2026-#### (for example, NJ-2026-0001). You receive it the moment you press Submit. The same number appears on your confirmation email and on your public listing, so please keep it and use it whenever you contact us.
What happens if my family is adopted?
Your sponsor buys the gifts and delivers them directly to your family. Sponsors are anonymous by default, so you may not know who they are. Operation Holiday® does not purchase, collect or distribute the gifts. We follow each adoption from purchase, through shipping, to confirmed delivery.
Is an adoption final when I see it on the website?
Not yet. In rare cases a sponsor changes their mind and cannot go through with an adoption, for health or financial reasons. For this reason, please do not consider an adoption final because of what you see on the website. Wait for our email. We send it after we have communicated with the sponsor and confirmed that they intend to honor their pledge.
Wait for our email before you count on it.Which areas do you serve?
Operation Holiday® serves families in New Jersey, in all 21 counties.
Who do I contact with a question?
Email info@operationholiday.net or call (908) 509-7699. Please include your Family ID if you have one.
Still have a question?
Our team is happy to help. Please include your Family ID if you have one.
Contact us- info@operationholiday.net
- (908) 509-7699
- Morris Plains, New Jersey
We make Christmas possible.