Give a child the Christmas they're hoping for.
Saturday, December 12
What is Hope for Christmas?
Christmas should be the most hope-filled season of the year, but for many families in our city, it’s the hardest. Hope for Christmas is United’s chance to change that. On Saturday, December 12, children in our community will receive the Christmas gifts they’ve been hoping for, picked out and given by people who care about them. It’s a reminder that they are seen, loved, and not forgotten, and it points to the true hope of Christmas: God came near.
This only happens because of people like you. Sponsor a child and become a part of the hope a family will remember this Christmas.
Pick a child
Choose a child to sponsor and see the gift ideas they’d love. You can sponsor more than one. Sponsorships open October 25.
How to Sponsor
Shop by December 6
Purchase two new gifts from your child’s gift ideas, ($25 value per gift). Each child receives two gifts to keep things fair among families, so if you’d like to give more, sponsor another child.
Label and drop off
Label your gifts and bring them to United Church by December 6. You’ll receive an email with step-by-step instructions as soon as you sign up.
Pray for your child
Pray for your sponsored child(ren) and their family. You never know what God will do through a gift and a prayer.
What To Expect
On Saturday, December 12, families will step into a morning full of Christmas joy.
Kids shop and craft. Kids “shop” for their parents and make special crafts to give them.
Parents collect gifts. Parents pick up the gifts you provided.
Hot drinks and sweet treats. Warm up and enjoy something sweet.
Meal kits to take home. Every family leaves with a meal kit.
Photos with Santa. Families can capture the memories.
Our hope is that every family leaves this day feeling the love of Christ.
Help Make Christmas Happen
You can be on the front lines of Hope for Christmas. Serving is a chance to welcome families from our community and help make the day fun and unforgettable for every child. There’s nothing like seeing a child’s face light up, and as a volunteer, you get to be part of the reason it happens.
You don’t need special skills or experience. There’s a place for you.
Ways To Serve
Week-of setup and prep
Help us sort and label gifts, assemble meal kits, and turn our space into a festive place of hope.
Event day
Take a flexible, high-impact shift: direct the flow of the day and welcome our guest families with warmth and hospitality.
FAQs
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Hope for Christmas is United’s outreach event on Saturday, December 12, where children in our community receive the Christmas gifts they’ve been hoping for, picked out and given by people in our church family.
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Sponsorships open October 25.
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Yes! You’re welcome to sponsor as many children as you’d like.
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Yes, each child you sponsor needs two new gifts, each with a $25 value. Both gifts should come from the gift ideas listed for your child. If you’d like to give more, sponsor another child.
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Setting the value at $25 means every child receives gifts of similar worth, so no child feels left out.
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Please bring your gifts unwrapped. After you sponsor a child, you’ll receive an email with step-by-step labeling instructions so your gifts get to the right child. Just follow the email, then bring your labeled gifts to United Church by December 6.
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Please drop off your gifts at United Church by Sunday, December 6 so we have time to sort and organize everything before the big day! We will provide the exact drop-off location closer to date.
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You can still be a part of Hope for Christmas! We need people to serve on December 12 to make the day happen, and every volunteer helps give families a Christmas they’ll remember. -
The children we’ll serve are from our local community, selected by zip code and by schools near us. They range from newborns through high school students, and we’ll also serve older individuals with special needs. Sponsors don’t meet the children, but your gifts will make their Christmas!
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On Saturday, December 12, children will “shop” and make crafts for their parents while parents pick up the gifts you provided. Every family also takes home a meal kit, and Santa will be there for photos with the kids.
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If you have questions about sponsoring a child or using the sign-up platform, our partners at the West Ridge Hope for Christmas Toy Team are happy to help. You can email them at toys@hopeforchristmas.com or text them at 770-823-4985. For questions about the event on December 12, serving, or anything else at United, reach out through our Contact Us page and someone from our team will get back to you.