Spread the Spirit of Christmas... help collect gift cards to meet the needs of families and single service members. ​

 The best way to spread Christmas perfection
is hosting an OHH gift card collection!
Okay, so we're not poets, but we do know a lot about spreading the Spirit of Christmas through our Operation Christmas Spirit program!

When we serve families and single service members all over the country at Christmas time, gift cards are the most helpful donation we receive.

Why gift cards? 
  • The most common wishes we see through this program are for help with items that are sometimes best chosen and purchased by families on their own: 
    • gas
    • groceries
    • clothing
    • shoes
    • household goods and toiletries
    • furniture
    • baby items
  • Midway through our season's efforts,we start focusing on families who have applied for assistance from all over the country. We find that sending assistance in the form of gift cards cuts down on shipping costs and therefore maximizes donation dollars to spend directly on families.
  • Right up until Christmas day families reach out to us for help. Sometimes, the folks who hesitate the longest are those who need help the most. Gift cards, e-gift cards and online donations allow us to email or fedex out help right up until Christmas day no matter where families are located.
 Because of this, we focus a large component of our efforts on collecting gift cards for families to do shopping of their own.

Information About Collecting Gift Cards for Operation Christmas Spirit:
  • If you sign up to host a gift card collection, we provide  a flyer with suggested gift cards based on wish lists we have.
  • If you have group members who want to make a monetary donation instead of a gift card. online donations can be made, and we'll purchase gift cards for you. 
  • Our gift card collections usually focus on gift cards to make purchases at: 
    • ​Grocery stores
    • Gas stations
    • Stores where you can buy and try on clothing and shoes (Kohl's, Target, Walmart, TJ MAXX, Marshalls, Department Stores, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc.)
    • Stores where you can buy baby items (BuyBuy Baby, Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
    • Stores where you can buy household goods and toiletries  (Target, Walmart, Homegoods, Amazon, TJ MAXX, etc.)
    • Online shops that deliver needed items are a big blessing, especially for "deployment single" parents on the home front while a spouse is deployed (Amazon gift cards are always appreciated, but stores like Target, Walmart, Staples, Barnes and Noble, etc. all deliver free of charge around the holiday season)
  • E-gift cards are also greatly appreciated as we can email the gift cards to families quickly to help. ​
  • If you are hosting a gift card collection through your business, school or congregation, hosting an angel tree is one easy way to get employees, families and members involved. 
​
Important Dates for This Year's Program:
  • Now through December 5th: Sign up to adopt a family with wish lists provided to donors.
  • December 10th: Suggested deadline for angel tree collections for families
  • December 12th- 15th: Gift drop off events at various locations-- DEADLINE FOR FAMILY ADOPTION DONATIONS
  • December 14th: Family gift pick ups at Camp Pendleton, Lejeune and Fort Drum
  • December 17th and 18th: Family gift pick ups at Fort Carson, MacDill AFB, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, and  DC Metro area locations
  • December 22nd: This is the last day we can take gift cards guaranteed to be used for Christmas. After this date, gift card donations may be used toward helping families through our Operation Enduring Support program. 
We do help families right up until Christmas day, but after December 10th, we encourage donors to help families through online donations and gift cards. This allows us to mail out and deliver assistance quickly to families who come to our attention later in the season. 
​
Interested in signing up to host a gift card drive? Use the registration below to let us know to count on your help. Please know the official kick off of Operation Christmas Spirit is November 11th. You will hear from us to kick off the program on this day.