Nonprofit organizations in Lawrence are recruiting volunteers to adopt needy families in the area for the annual donation drive known as the Holiday Bureau.

Officials at Ballard Community Services, 708 Elm St., and Penn House, 1035 Pennsylvania St., are asking community members to consider adopting a family to make sure they receive holiday gifts, clothing and a warm meal.

“The Holiday Bureau is a chance to show people in need that the community cares,” said Kyle Roggenkamp, director of human services at Ballard Community Services. “This program changes the holidays for so many children, you cannot believe the sense of accomplishment that comes with adopting a family.”

Families interested in adopting may contact any of the nonprofit organizations involved with Holiday Bureau with their donations and contact information. Adopters may request a certain family size that they would like to adopt.

Officials at Penn House say they still have more than 150 families to adopt.

Holiday Bureau organizers said people who cannot afford to adopt a whole family can still help the program by donating gift cards to a local grocery store. That enables families that are not adopted to receive a holiday meal.

People interested in adopting a family or donating to the program may contact Ballard Community Services at 842-0729, or Penn House at 842-0440.