Holiday Helpers

During the holiday season, many people look for ways to give back to those less fortunate in Houston. 

For mom-of two Sara Payne, giving back has been focus each year during Christmas for the past seven years. 

Sara, along with help from family and friend volunteers, has collected gifts for Catholic Charities’ annual Share Your Blessings campaign. The annual toy drive helps give gifts to children and families in need in the Greater Houston community, no matter what faith. This year, the campaign celebrates its 30th anniversary.

“The weeks leading up to Christmas are usually very chaotic,” said Sara. “This project helps me remember what Christmas is really about.”

Sara, along with the help of her two girls, Abby, 12, and Isabelle, 10, and an extensive list of volunteers, have made more than 700 children smile on Christmas morning by collecting toy donations to donate to Catholic Charities.

The annual project brings low-income children their most-wanted toys, along with necessities, at Christmastime. Together with her helpers, Sara has ensured kids each year get their wish list filled for Christmas. She collects the gifts in her home, filling up her living room with boxes and boxes of toys. 

Sara (in the middle) recruits friends, neighbors, and family to donate toys and help sort the donations. Here, she’s pictured with volunteers Tabatha Urech (left) and Jen Deutsch (right).

The volunteers, friends, neighbors and family, who range in age from children to adults, work hours on end to carefully sort the gifts, wrap, and label them to ensure each child gets their specific wishes. Finally, they make the delivery to the charity headquarters where the gifts are distributed to the families.

Sara says the organization of donations is a group effort. “All of the giving would not be possible without those who have helped shop, donate, wrap, organize, and drop off.” 

Each child provides a list of three wishes, often modest requests like socks or snacks. Sara recalls one child’s list in 2022, which included a wish for a bike. Sara sends the information out to those who want to help and selects a list to fulfill. 

“I did not expect anyone to buy a bike for a stranger, but one family stepped up and got one,” she said, smiling. She said imagining the delight of a child on Christmas morning seeing a new bike or toys is the true meaning of the holidays.

To make it happen, it is not just about the monetary donations – volunteers also step in to help wrap and organize the gifts. “Seeing these lists from kids in our city makes me want to help as many as possible,” Sara said. “Many people in our neighborhood want to spread the joy, knowing their own kids will have a special Christmas.”

For those interested, Sara encourages getting involved through local churches or Catholic Charities’ program, which can be accessed at Catholic Charities Volunteer Opportunities (see catholiccharities.org/makeagift/syb).

ALL IN THE FAMILY Jenny Vestal (right) and daughters Caroline (left) and Lucy (middle) volunteer at Christian Community Service Center’s Jingle Bell Express every year. 

Another Buzz resident volunteer, Jenny Vestal, shares in the same spirit that the holidays are more than celebrations – it is about giving back. 

Jenny has been a volunteer with Christian Community Service Center’s (CCSC) Jingle Bell Express since 2015. 

This annual event, which began in 1980, provides toys, books, and grocery gift cards to 2,500 children in need. Low-income families are in desperate need of ways to ensure their children receive a special Christmas, and this program ensures that can happen.

“Jingle Bell Express is the most rewarding volunteer experience because it allows families in Houston, who otherwise may not have the opportunity, to bring Christmas to their children,” said Jenny. 

Volunteering is at the heart of family values for the Vestal family. Jenny’s two daughters, Lucy and Caroline, volunteer alongside her, which has the sweet bonus of extra special family time together during the otherwise hectic time of the holiday season. 

The highlight for Jenny, she says, is when she gets to hand over the bags of toys to parents, and witnesses firsthand the impact of giving back to people who need it the most. Those moments keep calling her back to volunteer. 

“More than a few times, there have been tears,” said Jenny. “The best moments are when the kids come to pick up their bags with their parents, their eyes lighting up in excitement.” 

Those moments, along with the heartfelt joy on the faces of the children, are the true reward in spending time during the holidays helping those in need. 

How to Help this Holiday Season 

This season, consider joining in local efforts to give back to your community. We’ve gathered a list of ideas below.

Jingle Bell Express 

The Jingle Bell Express, through Christian Community Service Center, is open for donations through Dec. 6, accepting new, nonviolent toys and books for children up to age 15. Items can also be ordered through the Amazon wish list. See ccschouston.org/jingle-bell-express.   

Catholic Charities’ Annual Share Your Blessings Campaign

Help brighten Christmas for those in need with Catholic Charities’ Annual Share Your Blessings campaign. Toys and donations are accepted through Dec. 14. See catholiccharities.org/sybrequest.

Houston Food Bank 

Volunteering for the Houston Food Bank is a good way to help those in need. See ways to help at houstonfoodbank.org and click Ways to Give. Or share the love through the Houston Food Bank’s Holiday Card program: for a $10 donation, they’ll send a card on your behalf, providing meals to those in need. Spread holiday cheer and help feed neighbors in need. Every card donation provides 30 meals to families in Southeast Texas. Cards are available through early Jan. 2025. 

Joan and Stanford Alexander Celebration Company

Celebration Company, through Jewish Family Service, empowers adults with disabilities to produce high-quality products and art. Shop during the holidays for art and gifts, including a Chanukah Shop, to support their cause. They raise awareness of disability rights as human rights and create a community of artists, advocates, and allies. See celebrationcompany.org.

The Brookwood Community

The Brookwood Community provides an educational environment to support adults with disabilities. Shop Brookwood's Gift & Garden Center, full of holiday gifts crafted by Brookwood citizens, or purchase their famous poinsettias. See their website for details and special events, such as their Christmas Open House, Dec. 6-7, and Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 14 and 21.  Visit brookwoodcommunity.org. 

Be An Angel’s Christmas Gift Program

Help provide gifts to financially underprivileged special needs children in the Houston area. There are many donation and volunteer opportunities. Help decorate and/or deliver Christmas gifts, Dec. 10-11, with volunteers organized at George R. Brown Convention Center. More than 100 volunteers are needed each day. See beanangel.org/Christmas. 

BEARing Gifts Program

BEAR provides help for at-risk and CPS-involved children and their caretakers in the Greater Houston area. BEAR’s holiday program, BEARing Gifts, provides gifts to these children, who may otherwise not experience the joy of the holiday season. There are multiple ways to get involved – sponsor a child, host a toy drive, donate, shop an Amazon wish list, or volunteer. Toys are accepted through Christmas. If you want to sponsor a child, toys must be dropped off by Dec. 16. See bearesourcehouston.org/programs/bearing-gifts/. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s Annual Santa Project 

BGCGH orchestrates the annual Santa Project, ensuring joy for children and teens across the Houston area, especially those facing financial struggles. Families in need compile holiday wish lists, encompassing both necessities and desired items. Upon wish list submissions, BGCGH pairs children with donors. Each donor receives a list of requested gifts, purchases them, and delivers the wrapped and labeled items to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s “Santa’s Workshop.” Individuals interested in becoming sponsors should submit a Santa Project interest form by Dec. 6. See bgcgh.org/santa-project/. 

City Wide Club of America’s Christmas Super Feast

City Wide Club of America holds a Super Feast annually Christmas Eve at George R. Brown Convention Center, where thousands are served with traditional hot meals in addition to clothing, household items, and necessities. There are multiple ways to help: Sign up to volunteer in person, drop off donations (items in need include turkeys, non-perishable foods, toys, household items), or donate funds. See volunteer.citywideclub.com. 

Houston Children’s Charity's Adopt-a-Family and Toy Distribution 

Houston Children's Charity offers an Adopt-A-Family program and Annual Toy Distribution, helping thousands of families in need within and around the Greater Houston area. HCC teams up with the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program to provide toys for underserved children. The Annual Toy Distribution takes place in the George R. Brown Convention Center. To volunteer, contact: [email protected] or 713-524-2878.

Houston Fire Department’s Operation Stocking Stuffer Toy Drive 

The Houston Fire Department collects thousands of toys to help families in the Houston area each year. Shop their toy list or donate funds. See osstoydrive.com. 

Kids’ Meals Houston's Adopt a Family and Holiday Hope Toy Drive 

Kids’ Meals makes and delivers free, healthy meals directly to the homes of children in need. There are several ways to help this holiday season – adopt a family (wrapped, labeled gifts should be delivered to families by Fri., Dec. 21), host a toy drive benefiting children on Kids’ Meals routes, or volunteer to decorate bags. See kidsmealsinc.org/holidayhope or contact: 713-695-5437 or [email protected].   

Ronald McDonald House’s Home for the Holidays Program 

Ronald McDonald House provides a “home away from home” for families whose children are being treated at the Texas Medical Center. RMH’s Home for the Holidays program includes multiple ways to give to families served at RMH. Santa Shop is a free shopping experience, available to any family staying at RMH during the holidays, where families can select gifts for their children. Volunteers wrap the gifts and elves deliver the gifts in Santa Sacks on Christmas Eve. Help by donating gifts or gift cards by Dec. 6, or sending cards through their Holiday Card program. See rmhchouston.org/holiday. 

Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program provides Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children in Houston. To volunteer, you can select an “Angel,” purchase their requested gifts in person or online, and return the gifts to the Angel Tree. Online gift registries are available. See tsamm.org/angeltree.