Project Christmas is a family-based holiday Fundraising drive based in Cherry Hill NJ (A suburb of Philadelphia). Our yearly Christmas project serves families of all types who find themselves in need at the holidays, all across South Jersey. In previous years, we have assisted families living in Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Cumberland County. Gloucester County & Salem County as well as several families in Pennsylvania suburbs of Philadelphia.
Click to see the Season Wrap-Up data from each of our previous Project Christmas seasons:
- Christmas 2015: 1 family, 4 children - Our first year. In just FOURTY EIGHT HOURS - we pulled together for a family in need.
- Christmas 2016: 7 families, 15 children - Our first year as a REAL planned-out project.
- Christmas 2017: 17 families, 26 children - We worked our BUTTS OFF and raised more money, and helped more kids than ever before- more than we ever thought was even possible.
- Christmas 2018: 46 families, 116 children - This year, we took up THREE storage units!
- Christmas 2019: 64 families, 176 children - FOUR storage units FILLED to the brim - and we collected SO MUCH that we had to rent an extra unit throughout the year, to hold supplies for NEXT Christmas!
- Christmas 2020: 47 families, 136 children - Despite having ZERO volunteers, our director being 5 months pregnant - and having less than 1/2 the donations of previous years - we STILL made miracles during the Pandemic - not ONE child was left on our waiting list in 2020 - we helped EVERY SINGLE FAMILY WHO APPLIED.
- Christmas 2021: 72 families, 182 children - Despite a scaled-down project (we did not process clothing donations until after the holiday and did not distribute food this year) - we were able to help our largest number of families yet. Our new drop-off trailer for donations was used for the first time ever to great success.
Please enjoy these photos of the Holiday deliveries & family Christmas trees that were made possible through Project-Christmas past. Your donations and support made these holiday dreams come true!
How are family selections made?
You can learn more about the family selection process here: Who We Assist
Are there any limitations?
We are only able to help the number of families & children that we are able to collect, sort and distribute donations to. The more volunteers that we have - the more donations that we collect, the more families we can assist. This is why we initially approve five families early in the process- and then we continue adding families to our list as the season continues. Based on the number (and amount of financial donations) - we aim to help as many families in need as possible.
We do require that families applying directly for assistance (as opposed to those who are applying on behalf of a family that is not their own) - have at least one child under the age of 12. Donations for older children tend to be both more expensive, and more limited - as such, it is more difficult to provide for families who consist primarily of teens and older children. By focusing on the families with younger children, who we know that we have the resources to serve - we are able to help more families over all. We still ACCEPT applications for and assist families with older children, we just try to focus primarily on those with younger kids.
Because our assistance is so thorough (all the families needs are met - food, clothing, gifts, pet care, winter coats & gear, baby supplies, etc etc)- we want to be able to bring that Christmas magic to as many children & their families as possible. Our aim is to get struggling families through the Christmas season without their children noticing their struggles. We hope that by easing some of the burden, they are able to improve their financial situation. In the past, we have had donations from families who we have previously helped, and we're very proud of that! Families may apply every year - however - they may only RECEIVE assistance one time in any five year period.
You can learn more about the family selection process here: Who We Assist
Are there any limitations?
We are only able to help the number of families & children that we are able to collect, sort and distribute donations to. The more volunteers that we have - the more donations that we collect, the more families we can assist. This is why we initially approve five families early in the process- and then we continue adding families to our list as the season continues. Based on the number (and amount of financial donations) - we aim to help as many families in need as possible.
We do require that families applying directly for assistance (as opposed to those who are applying on behalf of a family that is not their own) - have at least one child under the age of 12. Donations for older children tend to be both more expensive, and more limited - as such, it is more difficult to provide for families who consist primarily of teens and older children. By focusing on the families with younger children, who we know that we have the resources to serve - we are able to help more families over all. We still ACCEPT applications for and assist families with older children, we just try to focus primarily on those with younger kids.
Because our assistance is so thorough (all the families needs are met - food, clothing, gifts, pet care, winter coats & gear, baby supplies, etc etc)- we want to be able to bring that Christmas magic to as many children & their families as possible. Our aim is to get struggling families through the Christmas season without their children noticing their struggles. We hope that by easing some of the burden, they are able to improve their financial situation. In the past, we have had donations from families who we have previously helped, and we're very proud of that! Families may apply every year - however - they may only RECEIVE assistance one time in any five year period.