Gift Donations – Child/Family
Holiday Toy Drive
To support our friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas, Gibson Mill Market is collecting new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls, ages 7-18 through November 30th.
Suggestions include age-appropriate board games, puzzles, books, small plush toys, art supplies, building blocks, and action figures.
The drop-off box is in the back of the Food Hall and will be emptied daily.
Rowan-Cabarrus YMCA Empty Stocking Fund
The Empty Stocking Fund has been helping families in need in Cabarrus County & Kannapolis for 88 years! Through donations, the YMCA is able to help provide gifts to kids and teens ages sixteen and under in our community.
Bring in unwrapped Christmas gifts and place the gift in one of the barrels set out in November or take a stocking off one of the lobby Christmas trees and shop for an entire family! Drop off locations will be available at all Cabarrus County YMCA branches.
Operation Imagination Toy Drive
Operation Imagination is a toy drive and giveaway aimed at helping children and families in Cabarrus County. This year, they’re hosting the giveaway at a central location, The Kettle Room, and striving to collect 1,000 toys—up from 400 last year!
To donate new or gently used toys or to make a monetary contribution, please email Ricehouserhymes@gmail.com.
CCM Adopt-A-Family Program
The Adopt-A-Family Program is designed to help those that are in the most critical need this holiday season and is coordinated by CCM. The program pairs referred clients/families with groups or individuals who have volunteered to “Adopt” a family for Christmas. Referrals come from school counselors or social workers.
Note: It is your responsibility to get your family their gifts a week before Christmas. Set up a central location to personally give them their gifts.
Marine Toys For Tots Program
The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.
This program helps approximately 30 local agencies by collecting toys, books, and school supplies for needy children in Cabarrus County.
Note: Toys for Tots accepts only new, unwrapped toys.
📍 Find a drop-off location here.
Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. Each box packed full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items becomes a tangible expression of God’s immense love for the child. For many, it is their first gift ever! Delivered by our local church partners, shoebox gifts provide an opportunity to present the Gospel to boys and girls in a clear, child-friendly way.
📦 Learn how to pack a Shoebox here.
📍 Find a drop-off location here.
Carolina Christmas Angels
For over 9 years, Carolina Christmas Angels has helped spread the joy of Christmas to hundreds of local underprivileged families in need. We provide gift packages (clothing, shoes and toys) to children aged 13 years or younger.
Each year, through fundraising and dedicated sponsors, we collect toys and clothing providing the only Christmas gifts that our families will receive. Funds raised go to our kids and a hot meal for our families at our annual Christmas party. We are 100% volunteer-driven.
📍 Drop-off toy donations at any of the four Hartsell Funeral Homes locations.
CPFC Emergency Fund
The Cabarrus County Partnership for Children’s Emergency Fund urgently needs support! This fund supplies essentials to Cabarrus County families with young children who face emergencies, like house fires, and can’t provide needed items.
Gift Donations – Seniors
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels Santa on Wheels
Beginning in November each year, the community can adopt a client’s name from the Santa on Wheels Christmas tree at the Cabarrus Meals on Wheels office to receive a gift wish list.
There are approximately 300 clients who are in need of being adopted for Christmas. Many of these clients do not have family to celebrate with and these gifts bring them so much joy.
Note: Gifts are dropped off at CMOW and delivered with their daily hot meal.
CCM Senior Care & Share Shoeboxes
Many seniors live on fixed incomes. A Senior Care & Share Shoebox spreads holiday cheer to someone who may not have much to look forward to this time of the year.
Simply pack a plastic shoebox with items and include a personal card or note. Please mark if your box is for a male or female on the top of your box and return it to the Crisis Center, 246 Country Club Dr. NE, Concord, NC and we’ll be sure that a senior in need receives your box of cheer!
Wendy Gainey Memorial Christmas Tree Program
The Gainey Memorial Christmas Tree is hosted each year by Cabarrus County Helping Hearts and Hands (Ch3), an employee-led charitable committee.
Cabarrus residents are invited to join County employees in selecting a tag and making a holiday wish a reality for local senior citizens, veterans, and more.
📍 Tagged trees are located at the Senior Center (Concord) and within Cabarrus County Libraries.
Gift Donations – Animals
Shelter Wish Tree
Each holiday season the Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County hosts their Shelter Wish Trees. Stop by Ruth’s Memorial Shelter to select a stocking which contains a photo of an animal in their care and their wish list. Or, follow them on Facebook to claim an animal to shop for.
Drop off items at the shelters or have them shipped directly from where you purchased the items.
- 🐕 Dog gifts should be sent to Ruth’s Memorial Shelter
- 🐈 Cat gifts may be sent to Princeton’s Meow
Events With an Impact
3rd Annual Lights of Love and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Join Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation for their 3rd Annual Lights of Love campaign and Tree Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by Wilkinson Funeral Home. Purchase a Light of Love to honor or memorialize someone who has touched your life in a special way this year.
Your donations will support the Greatest Need Fund at Atrium Health Cabarrus, providing hospital departments with the most up-to-date technologies, equipment, and programs. Your support of these hospital needs will enhance patient care in our community, making us the very best!
Festival of Trees
Held each year, the Boys & Girls Club’s Festival of Trees is the premiere event to ring in the holiday season! Kick-off Christmas at the historic Hotel Concord with over 40 theme-decorated tree creations, dreamy lights, and holiday cheer!
Event Highlights:
- Deck the Halls Gala: The weekend of events begins on Friday with an elegant evening of dining, dancing and singing along with InfiniteSoul.
- Holly-Day Hop: On Saturday, the shag style shenanigans of The Tonez will get you on your toes after a delicious buffet meal.
- Fa-la-la Lunch: Sunday tops off the festivities with a tasty Fa-la-la Lunch among the trees.
Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America, a national movement, honors veterans and teaches the next generation about sacrifices made for freedom. On Dec. 14th, at Oakwood Cemetery, 1600 sponsored wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves to ensure their remembrance and bring the community together in patriotic commemoration.
- Sponsor a wreath for $17 by Nov 28th
- Attend the ceremony on Dec 16th
- Volunteer to help place wreaths on Dec 14th
Cars & Brews: Toy Drive Car Show
Join Klean Exhibition for a Toys for Tots Car Show at Cabarrus Brewing Co. in Concord’s iconic Gibson Mill! Spectators can enjoy this free event while supporting a great cause, with attractions like breweries, an escape room, a food hall, and more in this historic 625,000-square-foot space!
22nd Annual Toy Run
Join Speedway Harley-Davidson for the 22nd Annual Arzie Rogers Memorial Toy Run, starting at Captain Steve’s in Harrisburg. Gather your gifts and rev up your engines as we come together to ensure local kids have an amazing Christmas!
Bost Grist Mill Christmas Open House – Photos with Santa
Experience the magic of the season at the Historic Bost Grist Mill Christmas Open House, featuring photos with Santa on Dec. 21 & 22! Donations collected will support WNC Farmers in caring for their animals this winter.
Brunch with Santa
Join the Kannapolis YMCA for a festive family breakfast with eggs, pancakes, sausage, and more, plus a visit with Santa and live music by Josh Sanders! Enjoy crafts, fun for all ages, and support the YMCA Annual Campaign, with proceeds benefiting community programs.
Hungry Howies Cops-N-Kids Christmas Weekend
Hungry Howie’s Pizza in Kannapolis is supporting the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Department Cops-N-Kids event with a donation weekend from December 6th-8th! 10% of all online sales will go towards making Christmas special for local kids—order your pizza and help spread some holiday cheer!
Order online at HungryHowies.com
Breakfast with Santa
The Cabarrus Shrine Club invites you to a festive Pancake Breakfast with Santa! Enjoy delicious pancakes, share your Christmas wishes with Santa, and snap a photo while supporting Shriners Children—holiday joy for a great cause!
YMCA Empty Stocking Fund Gift Packing and Distribution
For 88 years YMCA Empty Stocking Fund has provided, not only, Christmas gifts for local children, but also joy, hope and love. More than 200 volunteers are needed to make it happen. The YMCA would love to have you, your church, your staff, your family help this year. Sign up here.
1CAN Pack Events
1Can offers flexible, family-friendly volunteer opportunities for everyone—from youth and young adults to the young at heart. In addition to pack events, volunteers can also assist in the warehouse, help with shopping, join a committee, or serve as a Blessing Box Keeper.
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels Meal Delivery
Volunteers are our wheels to deliver the hot meals we provide to the elderly and homebound of Cabarrus County. If you’re on holiday time from work, have college aged or teen children out of school for winter break, or can spare a few hours mid-day, consider delivering meals. Contact Taylor Brock at 704.932.3412 or volunteer@cabarrusmow.org to learn more.
Cooperative Christian Ministry
Volunteers are the heart of this ministry. Whatever your skills and time constraints are, we welcome your commitment to making a difference by donating your time. Individuals and groups are invited. Contact Lorie Williams at 704.490.4245 or send her a message here to get started.
Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County
We have a volunteer opportunity for each and every one of you! There’s more to affordable housing than hammers and nails. Give us a call at 704-786-4001 or email us at volunteer@habitatcabarrus.org to hear about all our opportunities to serve!
Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus
Are you interested in making a difference by volunteering a few hours with HSOC? Our volunteers engage in a variety of activities, from shelter care and pet transportation to administrative tasks, fundraising, and educational outreach. Learn more about out volunteer tasks here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Your financial support fuels our mission, fostering more college graduates, community leaders, and entrepreneurs in our community by enabling us to recruit mentors, cover background check costs, and provide ongoing support and enriching activities for our program participants.
Boys and Girls Club
Your support is key to providing kids the opportunity for a Great Future. Making a donation is a great way to spread your generosity, ensuring the programs you care about will continue to help local kids thrive. Your donation enables us to serve our Club members TODAY….and responsibly plan to meet their needs tomorrow.
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels Holiday Card
We will send your loved ones a card for a $25 donation per card stating a week’s worth of hot meals was given in their honor to a home bound senior in Cabarrus County. A great way to honor your friends, family, or business associates.
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels relies on donor support to provide nutritious meals to the homebound in Cabarrus County. Your gift ensures that we will be there to provide for those who depend on us every day.
The Community Free Clinic
Donations support the services the clinic offers which include medical, pharmacy and dental services as well as Lifestyle Medicine assessments and care plans. Monetary contributions directly provide services to those most in need who would otherwise have no access to medical care.
Gate Pregnancy Resource Center
Your support makes a significant impact on our ability to serve our clients and fulfill our mission. Gate PRC is your ultimate pregnancy resource, breaking free from society’s one-size-fits-all approach. Your donations enable us to provide pregnancy test results and personalized support to navigate any situation.
Princeton’s Meow
The Humane Society of Concord’s cage-free cat adoption facility. We greatly appreciate your support and would like to request your generous donation to help us acquire essential supplies for our cause. Your contributions will make a significant difference in supporting our mission.
Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County
Hospice is a special way of caring for people who are living with a life-limiting illness as well as their families and caregivers. At Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, our goal is to help people live their last days as comfortably as possible, surrounded by family and friends.
The Lantern Project
Stand against human trafficking and sexual exploitation with The Lantern Project, a beacon of light in the battle against this global crisis. Join us in the fight against the fastest-growing criminal activity in the world, making a collective stand against human trafficking, enslavement, and exploitation.