Holiday Toy Drive 2025
Helping Local Families Create a Joyful HolidayWhy We Give
The holiday season can be heavy for families who are trying to make ends meet. This program gives them space to feel supported, to know that their children’s wishes matter, and to celebrate with dignity.
All donations stay within our local community. Every dollar funds real gifts for real kids. The joy of this work lives in the details; small hands unwrapping something that was chosen just for them.
The Impact
Local schools, Head Start programs, and Foster Families all participate60–70 children receive giftsEach child receives $100–$150 worth of presents100% of funds are used for gifts and supplies
This program continues because of collective generosity; neighbors supporting neighbors, families helping families.
How It Comes Together
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Gathering the Wishes
As the season begins, our team starts reaching out to families before Black Friday to prepare for the holidays ahead. Each parent is invited into a warm conversation—by phone or Zoom—where they share what lights their child up. Favorite colors, hobbies, dreams, and hopes become the inspiration behind every gift. These heartfelt exchanges set the tone for everything that follows, weaving intention and care into every part of the process.
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Community in Action
Once the wish lists are gathered, local donors, small businesses, and caring neighbors help raise the funds that make the magic possible. Volunteers shop for each child; selecting the exact items requested, and ensuring every detail feels personal. We make the most of Black Friday sales to stretch each dollar further, but our team keeps shopping until the final days before December 11th, making sure no wish goes unanswered.
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The Week of Giving
By December 11, gifts begin arriving at The Gathering Place, filling the space with color and anticipation. They’re carefully sorted and wrapped for each family, ready for the most meaningful part of the process; Parent Pick-Up Day on December 13. Parents arrive by appointment to collect the presents that were chosen just for their children, each package carrying the love and generosity of an entire community.
Early donations are what make this possible!
Early donations are what make this possible!
They allow time to plan, shop wisely, and ensure that every child receives something genuine and joy-filled; a reminder that they are seen, valued, and deeply cared for.
Key Dates for this holiday season
Donations Begin: Before Black Friday
Gift Drop-Off: December 11
Parent Pick-Up: December 13
Early donations allow us to shop with care and help us stretch each contribution further.
How to Contribute
Every dollar given goes straight toward gifts for local kids; and even a small contribution makes a real difference:
$10 can become art supplies, a new storybook, or a pair of warm gloves.
$50 helps fill a list with playful, creative items that spark imagination.
$100–$150 covers one child’s entire wish list, giving them exactly what they hoped for this holiday season.
Early donations help us make the most of Black Friday savings so your generosity stretches further. We continue shopping through December 11, bringing each child’s wish to life with as much care as we can.
Your gift carries more than presents; it carries love, hope, and the quiet joy of reminding a child that someone is thinking of them.
A Message From Our FounderEach year, Victoria, the founder of The World Healing Institute, reminds us why this work matters. In this short video, she shares the heart behind the Toy Drive; what it means for the families we serve, and how love in action becomes the true spirit of the holidays.