Open Door Mission – Presents Project Santa
What is Project Santa?
Open Door Mission’s Project Santa provides toys to needy boys and girls so that everyone will have gifts on Christmas morning. In the past, we pre-bagged toys into black bags for parents to give to children on Christmas Day. This year we are empowering parents by giving them a chance to choose toys their child will love in our Toy & Joy Shop.
How you can help:
Volunteers can help with Project Santa anytime between December 4 – 22, 2018 at Open Door Mission. Because of the enhancements to our gift-giving process, we need volunteers more than ever. Volunteers can be Personal Shoppers or Attendants. Sign-up is easy at www.opendoormission.org/volunteer. Volunteers (ages 13+) can be a store attendant. You’ll sort incoming toys and stock the shelves so parents can have choices for gifts for their children. Personal shoppers (ages 18+) can assist parents in choosing free gifts in the shop.
We also need people to host Project Santa Toy Drives to collect toys for all ages, including teens. You can personalize and print posters for your drive online. To sign up for a drive, visit www.opendoormission.org/resources/how-to-host-a-drive.
In addition to volunteering as a Toy and Joy Attendant or registering your own toy drive, you can also donate new, unwrapped toys to one of our donation centers.
Who we are:
Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission, founded in 1954, that meets the needs of individuals and families while inspiring HOPE for lasting change. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 816 safe shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 2,100 hot, nutritious meals, and provides preventative measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty. The vision is to help individuals and families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Open Door Mission welcomes people with the utmost respect and provides a place where they can feel safe and cared for. By honoring each person’s value and worth, we affirm their dignity. We go beyond a simple meal and bed by offering hope and healing.
Project Santa’s Toy Needs:
- Board Games (ages 8+)
- Baby Dolls
- Barbies
- Sports Balls
- Art Sets
- Makeup and Shaving Kits (for teenagers)
- $10 Gift Cards for Walmart and Target
- Toy Cars (especially Matchbox and Hotwheels brands)
Other Holiday Volunteer Opportunities:
At the heart of Open Door Mission is our volunteers. Working hand in hand, members of the community can make a difference at Open Door Mission. You can learn about the variety of ways you can help on our volunteer web page (www.opendoormission.org/volunteer). Walk-ins are welcome, and there are even opportunities to volunteer from home! A great holiday season volunteer opportunity to keep in mind is the Diaper Unloading Party on December 27 to unload the diapers donated during 94.1’s annual Diaper Drive. After unloading, there will be chili, chicken noodle soup, and hot chocolate available! You could also help prepare food, serve meals, or help clean the kitchen for our New Year’s Day Brunch & Banquet.
