We are already working on Christmas is for Kids 2024! Here is information for parents, donors and volunteers.

We are an all-volunteer run program that provides new gifts for children in the communities of Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Norton, Seekonk, and Rehoboth who would otherwise go without on Christmas Day. All monetary donations are used to support the Christmas is for Kids Program. We provide new toys and clothes to approximately 1,000 local children each year, thanks to your generosity and support! This is truly a community event!

Who Do We Help?

There are many stressors that can put a financial strain on a working parent or guardian, forcing a choice between food for the family and heat for their homes, leaving precious little, if anything, for gifts for their children at Christmas. Thanks to the generosity of our donors in the community, we have been able to provide basic clothing needs as well as fulfill some special wishes for thousands of children since 1983.  The children we help have faced many challenges, some living in homeless shelters, group homes, or foster care.  Some families have faced a medical crisis that have wiped out savings or forced a parent to stop working to take care of an ill child.

Parents: Parents or guardians can apply for the CIFK program here after Oct 1, 2024.  Please note the requirements outlined on the application. A few additional bits of information to be aware of when filling out the child’s wishlist:

  • When you fill out the story sheet, please include one item that the child would love. further into the sheet, you can give us more details around special needs or favorite sports team, etc.

  • Our plan is to reach out to parents as soon as your application is received to let you know that we are working on your children's gifts. We will call you to if we have questions about your application or if it is incomplete.  We will send a letter confirming the day and time to pick up the gifts.   

  • This year, we have returned to the class requirements for returning parents. See below.

Donors: Your help is so appreciated. If you ever wondered about your impact on the children and families in our community, Let us assure you that when children know that they have not been forgotten, when they open a gift that is exactly what they wished for...knowing that there was no way their parents could have ever afforded that gift, it keeps their hope alive. And when parents can watch their children open a gift of warm clothes and new winter boots, it takes a bit of worry off of their hearts. Here are some changes for 2024:

  • NEW LOCATION AT EMERALD SQUARE MALL. We are located on the third floor near Sears. If driving to us, the easiest way to get to us is to drive around to the back of the mall on the Sears side. Park in the parking garage in front of Sears and enter through the mall entrance tucked between the former Sears Store and Macy’s Men’s Store. We are directly across the hall. Look for our sign!

  • Early IN PERSON Matching: Saturday, November 23 from 1-4pm at our NEW TEMPORARY LOCATION AT EMERALD SQUARE MALL. We are located on the third floor near Sears. If driving to us, the easiest way to get to us is to driving around back of the mall on the Sears side. Park in the parking garage in front of Sears and enter through the mall entrance that is tucked between the former Sears Store and Macy’s Men’s Store. We are directly across the hall. Look for our sign!

  • Call in to be matched to children. Phones open on Sunday, November 24 12-2pm. 774-306-4013

    • Additional dates to call to be matched to children:

      • Phones are open the hours noted below:

        • MONDAY-TUESDAY, NOV 25-26 5PM - 8PM

        • MONDAY-FRIDAY, DEC 2 - DEC 6, 1PM - 4PM and 5PM - 8PM

        • SATURDAY, DEC 7 9AM - 5PM

        • MONDAY-FRIDAY, DEC 9 – DEC 13, 1PM - 4PM and 5PM - 8PM

        • SATURDAY, DEC 14 9AM - 5PM

  • We will send a confirmation email with the children's information so you can do your shopping. When you come to the Mall entrance located in the back of the mall next to Sears to drop off your donated items, please stay in your car and pop your trunk. We will have volunteers curbside to accept the donation so you can just "drop and drive!" The contactless process worked very well the past few years and seemed to allow folks to stay warm in their car and alleviate the congestion. Please be patient with us as we navigate our new logistics.

  • You can start now. If you'd like to take advantage of sales now and simply buy general items for us to match to children internally, we would welcome that kind of help. We also have an Amazon gift list of specific items needed to match children’s wishes. Click ——-> here to access AMAZON WISH LIST. Items will be shipped to Achin’s Garage and matched to the specific child.

Volunteers: Dearest Elves, We are excited to open up the opportunity for new elves to join us this year in the drop-off center. For teens who want to help at the drop-off center, parents must stay with any teen who cannot drive themselves. If teens want to help in other ways, please reach out and we’ll talk about ideas. All new elves must be CORI’d and returning elves must be CORI’s every 3 years. Elf training will be on November 16 from 9-11 am at the drop-off center.

Our Elves

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Our elves come in all different shapes and sizes and appear during the first two weeks of December to help make magic happen! During the day, they may be your neighbors, your postman, doctor or even the clerk at the local Dunkin’ Donuts, but come these special evenings and Saturdays as we get close to the holidays they transform into elves with magical powers as Santa's special helpers. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to organize and distribute the wonderful holiday packages to local families but they know that if it were not for the warm and generous donations from our local community, our elves would not even have a job to do!





Santa photo by Mike Arney on Unsplash. Thank you Mike!