You Can Still Help Those Affected By Hurricane Irma and Maria

Between Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have been left in ruins. But in the season of giving, you can help in a very personal way.

You may have heard of this wonderful program on Good Morning America. It's called the "Adopt A Family" program, and it's changing the lives of those who have lost everything (or nearly everything) because of the 2017 Hurricane Season. Hurricane Irma slammed in the Caribbean in the beginning of September, followed quickly by Hurricane Maria. Even though it has been months, the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and other areas of the Caribbean are still in desperate need.

The "Adopt A Family" program is a very easy way for you to help someone in need and in turn, feel good about doing good as we head into the holiday season. You can visit: AdoptAFamilyUSVI.com and fill out the form to adopt a family. You can choose to adopt more than one family and/or choose to adopt a family from a specific US Virgin Island or Puerto Rico. You can even allow them to choose where you want your package to go so it can be the best help to those in need.

After you fill out the form, you'll receive an email that will include information about the family you adopted and their wish list. The email can take between 24 and 48 hours to arrive though, so be patient.

Central New York favorite, Deborah Cabral the DeClutter Coach, actually first told me about this program. She has already adopted a few families. Out of curiosity, I asked to see one of the lists, because I was wondering the kind of items they were asking for (in all honesty, I was wondering if it was something I could afford to do going into the holiday season). And it is. They were asking for basic needs, food items, blankets, and things like that. It's definitely something anyone can help out with. When you adopt the family, you agree to send one "priority large flat rate box." If you're not sure how big that is, you can always stop by the Post Office or UPS Store to see what you'll be required to give. But just like in any other time in need, every little bit helps. And you can even send a personalized letter with your package to the family you help (if you choose to).

And if you're not sure you want to commit to "adopting a family," you can still send packages with specific items they're looking for. According to AdoptAFamilyUSVI.com, they're in need of diapers, baby wipes, depends, socks, blankets, towels, and basic hygiene items. You can get more details on needed items and where to ship these items by visiting the "FAQ" section of the Adopt a Family website.