Project Elf
Making Spirits Bright — Let’s Do It Again in 2025! 🎄
Because of YOU, 3,068 children experienced the joy of Christmas last year.
Thank you to every donor, volunteer, business, and family who helped fill Santa’s sleigh through Project Elf. Your kindness lit up the holidays for children, teens, and young adults who have experienced abuse, neglect, or homelessness.
Get Ready—Project Elf Returns Next Holiday Season!
Every December, The Christmas Box International transforms into a North Pole of hope—gathering gifts, essentials, and heartfelt donations to make the season magical for children in our community. Whether you're a company looking to give back, a family wanting to make a difference, or a volunteer ready to roll up your sleeves, Project Elf offers meaningful ways to spread holiday cheer.
Let’s make 2025 even more magical. Email [email protected] to stay tuned in for sign-up dates, wish lists, and volunteer opportunities coming this holiday season!
Holiday Highlights & Key Dates
(from last season—so you know what to expect!)
- Most-requested donation: Walmart Gift Cards!
- Donation Center Opened: Week of December 16–23
- Deadline for gift donations: Friday, December 20
- Please note: Only new, unwrapped items accepted
- No donations accepted December 24–25
- Offices Closed: December 24 – January 6
Volunteering Recap
Our 2024 volunteer spots filled fast—thank you!
From sorting gifts to spreading joy, our amazing community came through once again. For those who didn’t get a chance to help in person, many hosted fundraisers, donation drives, and virtual gift collections—and we’re so grateful!
Interested in volunteering for the 2025 holiday season?
Email [email protected] to be informed this holiday season!
Every child deserves a Christmas. With your help, we’ll be back this year—bigger, brighter, and more impactful than ever.
GREATEST NEED
WALMART GIFT CARDS
We are asking donors for $25 gift cards to Walmart. We provide these to families working with a Division of Child and Family Services system to purchase gifts their children want and need. Each family being served receives (2) $25 gift cards per child/teen. We want to empower parents to provide a positive holiday experience for their children.
Please Drop Off Gift Cards By: Thursday, November 14th OR Thursday, December 5th
How Can You Help with Project Elf Today?
*GREATEST NEED*
We are asking donors for $25 gift cards to Walmart. We provide these to families working with a Division of Child and Family Services system to purchase gifts their children want and need. Each family being served receives (2) $25 gift cards per child/teen. We want to empower parents to provide a positive holiday experience for their children.
We also ask for miscellaneous gift cards to use for teen Christmas presents. As part of their Christmas presents, each teen staying at a Christmas Box House receives (2) $25 gift cards. List of gift cards can be found on our Christmas Wish List.
Purchase gifts from our Christmas Wish Lists and deliver them to a Christmas Box House, or check out our Amazon Christmas Wish List and have Amazon deliver them for you.
Donated gifts typically range from $10 – $100. Out of respect for the children we serve and health precautions, we only accept NEW, unwrapped items.
Why unwrapped?
Gifts for specific children are selected by staff as children and teens come into the shelter throughout December so that even if they move on before Christmas Day, the gifts are given to the new placement to wrap and give to the child/teen on Christmas. Kids are very observant and if they are in a placement and receive gifts wrapped in different paper it can make them feel isolated. For the kids at the shelters Santa wraps all the presents in a special way for staff to give them to the correct kiddo.
HOLIDAY DONATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW
ESPECIALLY WALMART GIFT CARDS!
WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING DONATIONS DECEMBER 24TH OR 25TH
If you prefer that we do the shopping for you, you may make a monetary donation to help the children during the holiday season and throughout the year.
Organizing a Project Elf Donation Drive lets you involve others who might not be aware of the needs of the children met by Project Elf. Many families, businesses, and groups enjoy joining together and inviting others to give.
Donation drives are also an excellent way for youth to gain a greater appreciation for their blessings by sharing them with others who are less fortunate. Thank you for your generous support in ensuring every child has a Merry Christmas morning.
There are numerous ways to conduct a successful Project Elf Donation Drive:
- Using a giving tree with Project Elf ornaments listing Gifts Cards, and gifts from the Christmas Wish List
- Passing out fliers to your neighborhood and then having a donation pickup day
- Have a “Bring a Gift to Work Day”
- Create an Amazon Wish List and ship items directly to The Christmas Box House
Be mindful of the deadlines
- November 14th & December 6th for Walmart gift cards
- Week of December 16-20 & 23, Wasatch Front donations need to be taken to the DONATION CENTER
- Northern Utah donations should still be taken to the Ogden Christmas Box House
- Not accepting donations on December 24th or 25th
- Monetary donations are welcome at any time!
Downloads: To help you get out the word, we have included some artwork you may download, which can be found HERE
Thank you, HAVE FUN, and let us know if you have questions!
Drop-off Locations
Please deliver your new, unwrapped items to one of these locations:
PLEASE BRING ALL Salt Lake area donations to the
Christmas Box Donation Center
Monday, Dec 23rd, 9:00am- 5:00pm
ADDRESS:
4714 South Commerce Dr, Murray UT 84107 (Behind the Epic Gym)
Salt Lake Christmas Box House
Monday – Friday, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
3660 South West Temple, Salt Lake City UT 84115 (Northeast entrance- by the angel statue)
We will NOT be accepting donations on December 24th or 25t
Ogden Christmas Box House:
Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
950 East 12th Street, Ogden, UT (south entrance facing 12th street)
Week of December 16th- 20th & 23rd
Items will still be taken to the Ogden Christmas Box House
We will NOT be accepting donations on December 24th or 25th
Project Elf Wish Lists
- Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco
- TJMAXX
- Old Navy, PINK, Famous Footwear
- McDonalds, Little Caesars’, TacoBell, Chick-fil-A, Jimmy Johns
- Fiiz, Swig, Starbucks
- Cinemark, Megaplex, Nicklecade
- Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree
- Fidget Toys
- “Warmies” Microwaveable Stuffed Animals
TEEN
- Ulta Makeup Palette
- Ulta Makeup Brush Set
- Fake Lashes
- Foundation
- Teen girl perfume and lotion
- Popular Brand Hoodie (Nike, UnderArmour, Adidas-adult sizes)
- Popular Brand Joggers (adult sizes)
- Portable Speakers
- Over-Ear Headphones/Earbuds
- Nice Reusable Plastic Water Bottles (NO metal/glass. Dishwasher safe)
CHILD
- Lego sets
- Popular Disney Toys
- Bluey Toys
- Paw Patrol
- Squishmallows
- VTech/Leapfrog Toys
- Little Tyke/ Fisher Price Toys
NO TOY WEAPONS (EXAMPLES: NERF GUNS OR LIGHT SABERS)
- String/Boondoggle Kit
- Craft Kits & Art Kits (Avoid anything with needles or glass)
- National Geographic STEM Kits
- STEM Activity Kits
- Diamond Art
- 8×10 canvas boards
- Acrylic Paint
- Vacuums
- Duffle Bags
- Cordless Alarm Clocks
- Sound Machines
- Portable Blu Ray/DVD Players (Used for kids sick that need to stay in bed)
- Lock Boxes
- Switch Consoles (These are used at the shelters for all kids to play- not given as a present to an individual child)
- Switch Games (E rated- gift cards for downloads preferred)
- Amazon Fire Tablet (shelters are trying to move away from DVD Players)
Make shopping easier and check out our Amazon Wishlist.
…
Organize a Project Elf Donation Drive
Organizing a Project Elf Donation Drive lets you involve others who might not be aware of the needs of the children being met by Project Elf. Many families, businesses, and groups enjoy the camaraderie of joining together to give, and to invite others to give.
Donation drives are also a great way for youth to gain a greater appreciation for the blessings they have by sharing them with others who are less fortunate.
There are numerous ways to conduct a successful Project Elf Donation Drive:
- Using a giving tree with Project Elf ornaments listing gifts from the Christmas Wish Lists (and of course gift cards);
- Passing out fliers to your neighborhood and then having a donation Pickup day;
- Have a “Bring a Gift to Work Day”;
- Host a Facebook fundraiser;
- Simple word of mouth; and so on…
The possibilities are as broad as your imagination. The key to a successful Project Elf Donation Drive is simply to ask.
Accepting holiday donations NOW!
In order for gifts to be utilized as holiday gifts they should be donated no later than Friday, December 20th.
NOT accepting donations December 24th or 25th
Be sure to check out our WISH LISTS for ideas!
Downloads: In order to help you get out the word, we have included some artwork which you may download at the links below.
Project Elf Ornaments-Tags
Project Elf Ribbon Graphic
Project Elf Sign Utah
Christmas Box International is not able to assist the general public with holiday needs.
If you are working with The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), your caseworker can apply to our holiday program on your behalf.
Our holiday program is currently only able to support kids within DCFS.
For holiday assistance, please check out: https://211utah.org/resources/seasonal-services
