There is something magical about choosing a Christmas gift. It’s the thought that goes into finding a gift that will make someone smile when they unwrap it. For 350 local children, Cornerstone North Central Texas hopes to make that feeling part of their Christmas this year.
On December 12, Cornerstone will transform a local church into a Christmas store, welcoming approximately 186 families for an experience designed to be about much more than receiving donated gifts.
“We want to make that easy, make it fun, and make sure they just feel the love of our community,” says Elizabeth Johnston, Senior Director of Growth and Advancement for Cornerstone NCT.
That spirit is what sets Cornerstone Christmas apart. Families are paired with hosts who help them navigate the store, carry bags, and provide a welcoming experience. Families also visit wrapping stations, with the goal of removing stress and allowing them to simply enjoy the experience.
“They’re not just getting presents, but presents they’re excited about,” Johnston says.
Making Christmas Feel Like Christmas
Cornerstone Christmas is designed to meet practical needs while preserving the joy and dignity that come with the holiday. Each child will receive a brand-new hoodie, and families will receive food assistance to help cover the Christmas holiday and winter break. That includes perishable and nonperishable food, along with a $100 gift card for additional food needs.
Cornerstone also talks with families ahead of the event to identify other needs. If a family needs Christmas decorations, for example, the organization works to provide those items before the December 12 event. And because Cornerstone is a Christian organization, families receive a Bible. Johnston says the organization wants families to understand not only what is being given, but why.
A Community That Shows Up
The children served through Cornerstone Christmas are identified through free and reduced-lunch programs in local school districts, as well as through families already connected with Cornerstone’s family-support services. Cornerstone also works with other area nonprofits to compare lists and help ensure that resources are reaching families who need them.
But Johnston says the need continues to grow. For Cornerstone, serving 350 children this year is intentional. The organization wants to make sure it can give every family a thoughtful, meaningful experience rather than simply increasing the number of people served.
And sometimes, the reason the work matters becomes especially clear through the stories of the people who support it. Johnston recently spoke with a Cornerstone donor who told her about growing up without much. He remembered mowing lawns to help keep the lights on and waking up on Christmas morning without presents.
“He said, ‘I want to make sure that not only these kids have Christmas, but they have what they want when they wake up that day,’” Johnston recalls.
“And that’s what we’re all about.”
“We want to make sure that they are not just getting presents, but presents they’re excited about, and we want them to know that their community wants them to have a great day and to know that they’re loved and cared for.”
— Elizabeth Johnston, Cornerstone NCT
There’s a Place for Everyone
Making that happen takes an entire community. New toys and gifts can be donated through Cornerstone’s designated drop-off locations or through Cornerstone’s Amazon and Walmart wish lists. Financial contributions are another way to help, and even relatively modest gifts can have a direct impact.
$25 provides a stocking for a child.
$40 gives a child a new hoodie.
$125 ensures gifts for a child.
$200 covers food for a family during winter break.
The deadline to drop off a toy or gift is December 2.
To find drop off locations and learn more, visit CornerstoneNCT.org
Get involved:
Donate a gift
New gifts can be dropped off at designated locations.
Shop
Amazon and Walmart shopping lists to purchase gifts online
Give
Financial gifts help Cornerstone purchase toys, provide clothing and help families with food during winter break
Volunteer
Make the Christmas shopping experience welcoming and fun