One of those individuals is Willow Glen resident Nancy Gouveia, who knows the importance of holiday spirit. Four years ago, her family decided to "adopt a family" during the holidays.

After talking to the San Jose Unified School District, she was given the name and contact information for a family that needed a little extra help providing gifts and necessities for their children.

When Gouveia first went over to the family's home to ask the mother what her children needed for Christmas, the mother told Gouveia that the girls only needed a blanket.

Gouveia says she had a difficult time communicating with the mother, who only spoke Spanish. But, luckily, Gouveia's husband spoke Spanish, so with his help, they talked to the mother and chose additional gifts for the girls. To protect the family's privacy, they are not being named in the story.

During the first Christmas season the Gouveias bought sweats, pajamas, toys and clothing for the family's two young girls. That family has now grown to three girls. One daughter is in third grade and another is in first grade at Canoas Elementary School. They also have a two-year old. Throughout the years Gouveia's enthusiasm for helping the family has not faltered. And four years later, she still maintains a close relationship with the family and can't imagine life without them.

She truly enjoys being involved in the lives of the young girls, helping to provide anything she can, even occasionally having the girls over to play with her own grandchildren.

Although Gouveia cannot speak Spanish, making communication difficult with the girls' mother, she receives all the gratitude she needs from seeing the happy expression on the mother's face.

"She'll just sit there and smile," Gouveia says. "I can tell she is happy with what I've done."

The family's young girls now call Gouveia "Grandma." Together, she celebrates all of their birthdays and other holidays, like Easter or Halloween. She even takes them to the library once a week in the summer so the girls can take out some books. And to help them sharpen their English skills, she encourages them to read two English-language books for every Spanish-language book they borrow from the library.

The Gouveias have lived in Willow Glen for more than 40 years and feel incredibly fortunate to be able to live in the community, she says. For the Gouveias, good fortune automatically inspires them to share what they can with those less fortunate, especially around the holidays.

"I'd like to see more people give back in Willow Glen," she says. "We have so much. I wish everyone would just help at least one family."

The Adopt a Family program, which is now part of the Gouveias' world, was started by the Silicon Valley National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors approximately 15 years ago. Ray Silva Insurance Associates on Minnesota Avenue has administered the program in Willow Glen for the last four years.

Ray Silva Insurance works in tandem with Willow Glen elementary schools to identify needy families in schools. They match up the families with interested organizations, families, or companies that are interested in helping make the holidays joyful for those simply starting to make ends meet.

Each year, Ray Silva Insurance is given the names of families from Schallenberger Elementary School.

Last year 20 families and individuals adopted 30 families, with 80 children, through the Adopt a Family program at Schallenberger. Another dozen were referred to outside groups like Ray Silva Insurance and the District Healthy Start Program.

Staff at the school and members of the community donated $6,000 in cash, gift certificates and toys to needy families.

According to Schallenberger second-grade teacher Kathy Argabright, every staff member at Schallenberger contributed in some way to the program. Families are usually referred to the program by a teacher or school nurse, and sometimes the families will contact the school directly looking for a little extra help.

One mother found out about the Adopt a Family program after a neighbor signed her family up for it at Schallenberger. The mother is on financial aid because she is attending school, so receiving financial assistance around the holidays means one less worry.

"I just don't have the means to provide a blown-out Christmas right now," she says. The mother receiving the aid wished to remain anonymous.

She has one boy in first grade and another who is 2 years old.

After Schallenberger received her Christmas gift request, the family's name was given to a business that wanted to help out. A company representative came to the mother's home to find out what the family needed and on Christmas Eve, while the children were gone, the business brought gifts including DVDs, clothing, shoes and grocery-store gift certificates.

On Christmas morning, the two boys woke up to a house filled with presents and didn't know their "secret Santa" had provided many of the gifts.

Every year, Argabright says, she receives more requests for help. The need is great, but luckily, so is the generosity, she says.

Over the years the program has become an annual tradition at the school. It has developed a strong support base through the faculty, companies and sponsor families. It has also inspired others who hear about it. Argabright says that after she just mentioned the program during casual conversation, her hairdresser, dentist and bridge group all became involved.

She adds, "One boy in my class asked me if Santa would be coming this year because he didn't come last year. And although organizing the program is time-consuming, that is all I need to hear to keep going."

For more information about the Adopt a Family program or to participate contact Kathy Argabright at Schallenberger School at 408.535.6240.