2011 Holiday Programs

1. Sharing The Spirit Holiday Party
   On December 9th, over 400 children will attend a huge holiday party at South Coast Plaza. Every child receives a bag filled with presents, takes a picture with Santa and visits over 20 activity stations including craft making, a teen lounge, face painting, carousel ride, a delicious food station and much more! For most of these children, this party is their only holiday celebration and the only gifts they receive.



2. OC Family Pairing - 25 families
   A new program this year, OC Family Pairing teams up a family in need with a family that would like to help them. This help can come in many different ways depending on the families needs and how you would like to help. This program runs from November through December. These months are especially difficult for these families. This program will help them have a holiday celebration and not have as many daily struggles as they are used to. Some helping families may even have resources that will help change the course of their lives.



3. Gift Card Giving - 50 families
   This year, we have selected 50 families that really need help this holiday season. We will fill an envelope with assorted gift cards to help support each family in November and December. These cards will help them purchase groceries and other life necessities.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Donate Money
   With all of the resources available to nonprofits, your money goes a long way! And we need it the most. For every $40 donated, we can invite one more child to attend Gifts of Love. Last year we had to turn away 120 children, this year we want to include all children in this celebration.
   
   The Happiness Project is a 501(c)(3) legal non-profit. All donations are tax deductable. A tax letter will be mailed to the address provided before the end of the year.
   
   You can donate here.



2. Host a Toy Drive
   All you need to do is find a large box, collect donations and drop them off at our warehouse in Huntington Beach anytime on Friday, December 2nd. We will send you a packet that includes signs for your toy drive box. These signs describe the program and ideas of what to donate. These toys will go inside the gift bags that each child receives at the Gifts of Love event.



3. Contact Companies for Item Donations
   Every year it is difficult for us to get enough clothing and toys to pack our gift bags. If you know anyone that works at a company that could donate items, please tell them about our cause!



4. Adopt a Family
   If you would like to help a family this holiday season, click here.
   
   You can look through profiles and select the family that you can best help.



5. Donate Gift Cards
   For the 50 families in this program, this is a lifesaver. When families receive help from shelters, they receive food from pantries but are not able to select their own. These gift cards not only help to relieve the daily stress of how to feed their families, but also allows the families to select what they would like to eat. They are also able to purchase toiletries, underwear, socks and other life essentials. Gift cards to Target, Walmart and grocery stores are best, but any stores are helpful! To donate gift cards, please mail or drop them off to:
   
   The Happiness Project
   7402 Prince Drive
   Huntington Beach, CA 92647
   
   by 12/2/11.



6. Volunteer at our Gifts of Love Event on December 9th
   At our big holiday party, we will have at least 400 children in attendance. This means we need at least 200 volunteers to help out at the event. Sign-up here.