At the end of each year, The Center for Children and Families transforms into Santa’s Workshop, filled with toys, clothing, and gifts of all shapes and sizes for children and teens in who are currently in our services. The Center serves over 4,000 children and teenagers each year, many of which have endured some form of abuse, neglect, or trauma. The Christmas Project ensures that every child and teen that we serve gets to experience the joy of Christmas morning.
How can you provide Gifts of Hope?
- Submit a form HERE to request a child’s wish list.
- You will be able to choose an age, gender, and region for request (Monroe, LA, Shreveport, LA, Clinton, MS)
- Shop and deliver unwrapped items to our office by Wednesday, November 29th.
- We will deliver gifts to the child’s family!
- Submit a form HERE for your business to serve as collection site for new clothing and toy items to deliver to The Center by Friday, December 1st.
- Community members may shop and donate new clothing and toy items and deliver to The Center by Friday, December 1st.
- Host an event to collect/donate gifts to The Christmas Project (i.e. Stuff-A-Bus, Coat Collections, teen gifts, etc.)
- Text STANDFORHOPE to 53555 to give via credit card.
- Make a donation HERE.
- Mail a check to The Center (622 Riverside Drive, Monroe, LA 71201) and put The Christmas Project in the memo.
- Host a fundraising event benefitting The Christmas Project (i.e. Run for Hope 5K, local company donations, etc.)
What can I expect on a Wish List?
Each Christmas Project Wish List will have sizes for one complete outfit of clothing for your sponsored child: Shirt, Pants, Shoes, and Coat, as well as other toy or gift ideas (under $50). At a minimum we ask that each child receives at least one clothing outfit as well as one age-appropriate toy or gift on their wish list. This is the minimum requirement, however, there is no limit to how much you can give to brighten your sponsored child’s Christmas!
If you have more questions, please visit our frequently asked questions page HERE.
The Christmas Project History
The Christmas project began in 2005 when many of The Center’s employees struggled with the thought that while they would be able to provide Christmas gifts for their own families, many of the children they worked with would have nothing for Christmas. The first Christmas Project started small. 34 soccer balls were donated by Cross Keys Bank to provide something for the children we served. From that small seed The Christmas Project has grown into something extraordinary, providing gifts for hundreds of children and teens in our services each year.