Christmas Giving Program

Each fall, SVdP reaches out to families through home visits, other churches, and schools serving children in need. Families complete a Christmas wish list for each family member, with gifts around $60.

You can help in four ways: adopt a family, choose an ornament, or donate money.

Adopt a Family

• You choose the family size and agree to purchase gifts for every family member. In early November, you receive their wish lists, contact information, and address.

• We identify families for adoption based on needs such as single parenting, a child with special needs, a sick or disabled parent, or requests for bicycles.

• Many adopters deliver the gifts and purchase an HEB gift card for a holiday meal. Both are optional. Other volunteers provide them if needed.

• If you purchase bicycles, you must deliver the gifts. We also encourage you to include helmets and locks.

Choose an Ornament

• For families without an adopter, we create an ornament for each family member with their first name and gift wishes.

• Choose an ornament after Mass at SJN during the two weekends before Thanksgiving. Purchase and wrap the gift, then return it by Sunday, December 6.

• SVdP volunteers then sort the gifts by family.

Deliver Gifts

• On Tuesday, December 8, delivery volunteers pick up the gifts and an HEB gift card from SJN.

• They contact each family to arrange a convenient delivery time.

Give a Donation
Thank you for supporting the program! Your donation helps purchase HEB gift cards for holiday meals and gifts for ornaments parishioners haven’t chosen.

Support a family by purchasing and wrapping gifts for each family member. You choose the family size.

Choose an ornament in the Narthex during the weekends of November 14–15 and November 21–22, 2026. Each ornament includes a gift wish list for a neighbor in need.

After choosing an ornament, fill out the bottom portion and leave it in the basket. Keep the top portion and take a photo of it in case it gets lost.

Your donation helps purchase gifts and HEB gift cards for families who do not get adopted.

Help bring Christmas gifts to participating families.

• October 29: Adopt a Family sign-up deadline.

• November 14–15: Gift ornaments available in the church Narthex.

• November 21–22: Final weekend to choose a gift ornament.

• December 6: Wrapped gifts due by noon at the Holy Family Center.

• December 8: Delivery driver pickup from 8 am to 3 pm in Morris Hall.

• Adopt a Family questions: [email protected]

• Delivery Volunteer Questions: Delivery@SJNAustin.org