Gina Christopher has always loved Christmas. The decorations, the anticipation, and the magic of watching her three children’s faces light up on Christmas morning make it her favorite time of year.
But in October 2021, Christopher found herself thinking about a different kind of Christmas morning. She couldn’t shake the image of children waking up to empty spaces under the tree, their parents struggling silently while neighbors celebrated abundantly just down the street.
“I got to thinking about kids who don’t get to experience the magic of Christmas,” Christopher recalls. So, she reached out to see if anyone wanted to help.
That simple question sparked something extraordinary.
Christopher created a Facebook group called Dripping Springs Cares to connect families in need with families eager to help. What started as a grassroots effort to ensure local children received Christmas gifts has grown into a thriving community network that has brought joy to hundreds of children over the past four years.
“People would message me through my Facebook group with stories about families they knew of with kids who needed gifts,” Christopher explains. “Usually, friends or family members reach out about someone struggling who can’t afford Christmas.”
The process is beautifully simple. When a child is submitted as a candidate, Christopher posts the need to the Facebook group and asks for a sponsor. Sponsors receive a wish list created by the child’s parent or caregiver and typically purchase five to six gifts, averaging $100 to $150 per child.
“We’ve never had to turn a child away,” Christopher says with evident gratitude. “Dripping Springs Cares has grown organically. God has been in the details.”
In 2024, 83 children were matched with sponsors—a testament to both the need within the community and the generosity of Dripping Springs residents.
Over the years, the program has supported single mothers facing unexpected hardships, families navigating job loss, and grandparents raising grandchildren on fixed incomes. But what makes Dripping Springs Cares truly special isn’t just the gifts exchanged; it’s the relationships formed and the ripple effects of compassion.
“It’s beautiful to see families step up to support them,” Christopher notes. “Bonds are created between sponsor families and the families they help.”
Those bonds sometimes extend beyond wrapped presents.
One year, a sponsor noticed that the grandmother of the children she was helping had dangerously worn tires. Without hesitation, she followed the grandmother to a tire store and bought her a full set of new tires.
Another sponsor learned that the high school girl she was supporting needed a laptop for school and donated her own computer.
Then there was the single father of two preschoolers who didn’t have a Christmas tree. Sponsors provided not just gifts, but a tree, ornaments, and decorations to transform his house into a Christmas wonderland.
Casey Ball, a Dripping Springs resident, has partnered with two friends to sponsor a family for three consecutive years.
“I was looking for ways to give back during the holiday season,” Ball recalls. “The moment I saw Christopher’s post, I thought, ‘Oh, this absolutely has to happen.’ I just don’t want anyone to wake up Christmas morning not experiencing that joy.”
The first year Ball’s group delivered their carefully wrapped gifts, the gratitude was palpable.
“The mom was so grateful to have gifts her kids would really love. We put a lot of thought and intention into it,” Ball says. “It just heightens the feelings of the holiday and what it’s all about: giving, not getting.”
The flexibility of the program makes it accessible to everyone. Sponsors can choose to help one child, an entire family, or team up with others to share the cost.
For Christopher, the inspiration runs deep.
“Part of being a Christian means taking care of the vulnerable,” she explains. “We don’t realize that there are pockets of Dripping Springs with families in need.”
Her faith and her love of Christmas fuel her commitment to making the season wondrous for as many children as possible.
“Christmas has always been my favorite holiday because it’s Jesus’ birthday,” Christopher says. “Christmas is very magical at our house. I go over the top every year. I love to decorate and make my kids’ dreams come true. It’s great to be able to make that happen for less fortunate kids, too.”
As Dripping Springs continues to grow, so does the need—and thankfully, so does the community’s willingness to respond.
What began as one mother’s compassionate impulse has become a beautiful reminder that the true magic of Christmas isn’t found in what’s under our own trees, but in what we choose to share with others.
To learn more about Dripping Springs Cares or to become a sponsor, search for the group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Dripping-Springs-Cares-20/61584006434662/?hr=1
“We’ve never had to turn a child away. God has been in the details.” - Gina Christopher
“The mom was so grateful to have gifts her kids would really love. It just heightens the feelings of the holiday and what it’s all about: giving, not getting.” - Casey Ball