There's a particular kind of joy that comes from giving a gift you know will be loved. Not just a nice present, but the right one: the dinosaur pajamas in a favorite color, the art set for the kid who's always drawing, the gift card that lets a teenager choose something for themselves. Each holiday season, the Holiday Gift Project at Center For Family Services makes that kind of joy possible for children and families across New Jersey, and it happens because donors, companies, and volunteer groups decide to show up for neighbors they may never meet.

If you’re looking for a way to give back during the holidays in New Jersey, the Holiday Gift Project offers several ways to help children and families, from online donations to gift cards and workplace fundraisers.

Why Holiday Gifts Matter for Children and Families

The holidays are meant to be a time of warmth and connection. For many of the children we serve, including young people living in our group homes and emergency shelters, the season can also bring reminders of what's missing. For families working through hard times, stretching a budget to include gifts isn't always possible.

The Holiday Gift Project exists so that every child in our care is remembered. A gift says something simple and powerful: you are seen, you matter, and people are thinking of you.

How Holiday Gift Project Donations Become Personalized Gifts

What makes the Holiday Gift Project different is how personal it is. Gifts aren't pulled from a generic bin. CFS staff who work alongside these children and families every day do the shopping, choosing items in the sizes, colors, and styles each child actually loves, and then wrapping them with care.

That personal touch shows up in the moments that stay with us. Last year, a counselor picked out the exact action figure a 4-year-old had been hoping for, and his mom was amazed that it was the very thing he'd asked Santa for. We also heard from many teens who requested gift cards. It might sound like a simple ask, but for a young person, a gift card means independence and the dignity of making their own choice.

The Joy Goes Both Ways

Ask anyone who has supported the Holiday Gift Project and they'll tell you: giving feels good. Donors describe it as the moment the holiday season really starts for them. Companies find it brings teams together around a shared purpose. Volunteer groups, from congregations to schools to service clubs, discover that a few hours sorting and organizing gifts becomes one of the most meaningful traditions of their year.

Community groups have been part of this effort for years. Local service organizations, faith groups, and even preschool classrooms have collected gifts, rolled up their sleeves to sort donations, and taught the next generation what it means to give back. That spirit is what has helped the project grow into the community-wide tradition it is today.

How to Support the Holiday Gift Project in New Jersey

There are several ways to be part of the Holiday Gift Project this year:

• Donate online. A monetary gift is the most effective way to get the right present to a child. Gifts of $10, $20, or $50+ all make a difference, and your donation helps purchase gifts. 
• Send gift cards. Gift cards to grocery and retail stores, or VISA gift cards, are especially meaningful for teens and families. Mail or drop off to: Center For Family Services, Holiday Gift Project, One Alpha Avenue, Voorhees, NJ 08043. 
• Rally your group. Workplaces, faith communities, schools, clubs, and friend groups can organize a collection or fundraiser together.
• Become a corporate sponsor. Companies can fold their support into an Annual Corporate Sponsorship, with recognition at CFS events and community drives throughout the year, including the Holiday Gift Project.

If you're donating physical gift items, please leave them unwrapped. Donations are accepted: 

Center For Family Services - Tuesday-Thursday, 10am-3pm through Friday, December 11, 2026  -  1 Alpha Avenue, Voorhees, NJ 08043 or 86 S. Harrison Street, East Orange, NJ 07018

Cherry Hill Mall or Moorestown Mall - Monday - Friday, 10am-4pm -  Management Office 

Levi's Store - Cherry Hill Mall - Open every day, varying hours. 

Photos with Santa at The Promenade - Saturday & Sunday, 12pm-3pm through 12/20 (specific location will be available in November & December)

Reach out to HolidayGiftProject@centerffs.org for more information. 

A Note on Privacy

To protect the privacy and confidentiality of the children and families we serve, donors won't receive a personal thank-you from a child or family. Every donor will receive a thank-you letter from Center For Family Services, and you can trust that your gift landed exactly where it was meant to.

Be Part of the Joy

When a child opens a gift chosen just for them, they feel something that lasts well beyond the holiday season: the comfort and confidence that come from knowing their community cares. This year, we invite you, your colleagues, your congregation, your class, or your circle of friends to be part of that moment.

Donate to the Holiday Gift Project today →

Questions? Reach out through the Holiday Gift Project inquiry form. Because the holidays are an especially busy time, please allow a few days for a response.