Holiday Cheer

1. Submit an application online. (The application link will open in September 2026)
2. The application will include the following questions:
   • How many individuals would you like to sponsor
   • How you wish to deliver the gifts (Host a sponsor-led event, deliver the gifts to one of our drop-off locations, deliver the gifts to the family’s social worker)
     • Sponsor-led events: the date, time, and location of these events are based on the sponsors’ discretion.
     • Wake County Pick Up Locations: our team hosts pickup locations in Wake County for sponsors to drop off gifts and families to pick up.
   • Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email.
   • Next, you will receive an email titled “Holiday Cheer – Family Profile Information.” Please respond to this email and confirm that you accept sponsorship of the family.
3. Begin shopping for gifts. Gift purchases are based on the sponsors’ discretion. Families submit their shirt, pants, and shoe sizes, along with any additional requests. However, it is up to the sponsor what is purchased and how much money is spent.
4. Gifts that are delivered to the Wake County gift pickup locations should be labeled with the parent and child’s name for easy identification.
5. For sponsor-led events, please deliver all gifts by Friday, December 18th. Gifts shall not be delivered to the family’s homes.

1. Identify a family that you are working with that is unable to purchase gifts for the holiday. Please ensure that the referring social worker or the family has the means to pick up the gifts from one of the pickup locations.
2. Meet with the family to gather the following information:
   • Parent/Guardian Name
   • City, Zip code
   • How many children the parent is referring to for Holiday Cheer
   • The shirt, pants, shoe size, and additional requests for each child being referred
   • Choose their preferred gift exchange pick up location
3. Submit the application for the family. Once the application is submitted, the referring worker, and the family, will receive a confirmation email.
4. The Holiday Cheer Team will send an email to the family in November confirming they have a sponsor. This email will include all the information about the date, time, and location for picking up their gifts. Please do not advise families to pick up gifts unless they have received this email from our team.
5. We do our best to assign all families sponsors, however, sponsorship is not guaranteed.

Volunteer opportunities are only open to active Wake County employees. Employees are welcome to volunteer for events once the sign-up opens in September.

We gratefully accept tax-deductible financial contributions that will be turned into practical items for families.

Financial contributions can be made online or mailed in.

Online Donations

Checks and other mailable gifts can be sent to:

Holiday Cheer Project
c/o Wake County Health & Human Services
4401 Bland Road
MD-110
Raleigh, NC 27609

Pride for Parents

Pride for Parents is an annual donated toy and gift sale designed to benefit hard-working families during the holidays. The sale offers quality merchandise to families at deeply discounted prices.

Salvation Army Angel Tree

The Salvation Army Angel Tree provides Christmas presents to families in financial need with children up to 12 years old. 

NC 211 Community Database

Families who are not chosen to participate in Holiday Cheer can seek assistance through the NC 211 Community Database.