For some, the holiday season can create additional stress as parents strive to provide shelter, food, and warm clothing while keeping the magic of the season alive for their children.
Nearly 20% of Douglas County residents struggle to afford the most basic needs. Through the generosity of people who are able to open their hearts and pocketbooks, the holiday can become more joyful for everyone.
Through the generosity of people who are able to open their hearts and pocketbooks, the holiday can become more joyful for everyone. Give your children the gift of compassion in a very tangible way and make a family's holiday wishes come true too!
The Christmas Tree Project
There are too many families who cannot afford a Christmas tree. The mission of this Colorado Springs nonprofit is simple: give away fully decorated Christmas trees to families in need.
To date, the Christmas Tree Project has given away thousands of trees and has become the largest Christmas Tree give-away organization in the world.
They need trees (live and artificial), ornaments, Christmas decorations for the home, and cash donations. Visit www.thechristmastreeproject.org/donate to learn more.
Christmas Outreach at SECORCares
SECOR began in the '90s as a Christmas Outreach program. Since then, SECOR has grown to serve 55 zip codes in the SE metro area. The cornerstone Free Food Market provides a personal shopping experience to our guests.
This year’s Christmas Outreach program will be providing gifts to 450 local children, as well as a holiday meal for each participating family. You can help by providing a holiday meal kit or with a financial contribution. SECOR’s holiday distribution will begin the week of December 10th.
Parker Task Force Adopt-A-Family Program
The Parker Task Force helps hundreds of families in Parker, Elizabeth, and Franktown to feed their families and keep the lights on.
This 100% volunteer-run non-profit offers an Adopt-A-Family Program each year to help families who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford a Happy Holiday. Families can make monetary contributions or donate nonperishable food items and local store gift cards by Friday, December 8.
The Joy Project
Aspen Grove Church is organizing our community to generously provide Christmas gifts for children in the Douglas County Foster Care System.
After registering for this event, you'll receive an email with additional details, including further guidelines from DCDHS and drop-off instructions. Later, you'll receive a separate email with the Christmas Wish Lists of the specific children for whom you can provide. Please plan to stick to a budget of approximately $100-$150 per child.
Gift cards and gifts will be collected on Sunday, December 3, 2023, to deliver to DCDHS at a later date.
Help and Hope Center's Santa Sharing
Program
Families who are on the receiving side of the Santa's Sharing program are current HHC clients who have the greatest need. The Help and Hope Center creates a holiday store filled with new toys and gifts and invites parents to select gifts for their children free of charge.
This program depends on the generous people in our community donating to provide for these families. If you are interested in joining this mission, you can visit the website for a list of the most requested items, which includes toys, books, and gift cards.
In-kind donations can be delivered to the Help and Hope Center now through December 14. Families can also make financial contributions online.
Christmas Crusade For Children
Christmas Crusade for Children was started to connect law enforcement to underprivileged children and to bring joy to the people in their communities. Law Enforcement Officers nominate children they know who are in need and will personally deliver the presents to the children they nominated.
Call (303) 322-KIDS or donate online. If you have new, unwrapped toys, books, or games you’d like to deliver to support this campaign, please contact christmascrusade4children@gmail.com.
USPS Operation Santa
Kids all over the country will be sending letters to Santa for the holiday season asking for presents, from toys and books to basic necessities like coats and shoes.
You can pick a letter from anywhere in the country. Find the perfect gift and keep it anonymous — it's from Santa, after all! Prep and pack your gifts, then ship them from a participating Post Office™ location by December 18.
Be sure to watch Dear Santa, the documentary about this incredible 100-year-old program.
Denver Dream Center: Hope for the Holidays
This wonderful nonprofit creates opportunities for parents to inspire their children to give in their own community. Your kids get involved from the very beginning by choosing a less fortunate child to help, buying and wrapping a gift, and then giving it to that child face-to-face.
By engaging kids in philanthropy early in their lives, the program wants to create a ripple effect and inspire life-long giving. Families can:
- Sign up to give presents by adopting a family.
- Donate cash, and 100% of the funds will be used to support the program.
- Volunteer by organizing a toy drive, shoe drive, or fundraiser or donating products or services.
Other Ways to Help
- Make Blessing Bags with toiletries, food and water, warm socks, and a small amount of money to pass out to the city's homeless when you see them on a street corner.
- Foster an animal for the holiday season. You can contact Dumb Friends League, Sloppy Kisses Animal Rescue, and 2 Blondes All Breed Rescue, just to name a few.
- Contact your neighborhood school to help families in the school anonymously.
