Christmas is still more than two months away, but East Side St. Paul resident Leeann Larson hopes neighbors can get into the holiday spirit early.

Larson started “An East Side Christmas” in 2012, a seasonal initiative where St. Paul residents and businesses can “adopt” St. Paul families in need and provide gifts — all through Facebook.

Larson said the group now serves all of St. Paul, growing too big to just give to East Side families. She said she hopes even more families in need and people willing to donate will contact her in coming months.

Families in need can contact Larson by messaging her personal profile. People or businesses looking to donate and “adopt” a family can join the “An East Side Christmas” Facebook group.

Adopters and donors are connected to the families through the online group. When families in need contact Larson, she responds and asks for a wish list. She then posts their stories and wish lists to the donor group — without naming the family.

Donors can choose whatever story resonates with them most and adopt the family. From there, the donor buys gifts and delivers them around Christmastime.

The first year, Larson said three families were sponsored. “Last year was 76 families,” she said. “We are welcoming anybody who would be interested in adopting a family and donating.”

Currently, Larson said the Facebook page has 141 adopters and donors — many of whom have donated for the past three to four years.

“People do it because it’s a personal level,” she said, adding that a participant from last year requested to give gifts to the same family this year. “Some of our adopters have become their family.”