Christmas 2026
Make Christmas brighter for a neighbor.
Adopt a family, fill a stocking, or join the team that gets gifts into the right hands. There’s a way for your family, your Life Group, or just you to serve this Christmas.
Key dates
- Nov 28 – Dec 13 Christmas Outreach gift collection weekends
- Dec 11 Boys & Girls Club Adopt a Family sign-ups close
- Dec 16 – 18 Stockings due
Choose how you’ll serve
Four ways to bring Christmas joy
Pick a category to see its sign-ups.
Volunteer at your campus
Join the Christmas Outreach Team
Be part of the team that brings Christmas Outreach to life! Take a weekend shift at your campus gift booth, or join the Vista crews that set up the Plaza and sort the gifts for our ministry partners.
Weekend gift booths
Nov 28 – Dec 13. Choose your campus, then pick a shift.
Weekends, Nov 28 – Dec 13
Carlsbad Campus
Welcome people as they drop off gifts, help them place gifts under the right tree, and answer questions. Wear something red or green.
Shifts Saturdays 5:10–7:15 PM, Sundays 8:40–10:45 AM or 10:40 AM–12:45 PM
Where Christmas Outreach booth at the Info Booth, 2310 Camino Vida Roble, Carlsbad
Ages All ages welcome
Weekends, Nov 28 – Dec 13
San Marcos/Escondido Campus
Accept gifts as people drop them off, restock ornaments on the trees, and carry gifts to the conference room to be organized.
Shifts Saturdays 4:55–6:55 PM, Sundays 8:40–10:40 AM or 10:40 AM–12:40 PM
Where 1451 Montiel Rd, Escondido
Ages All ages welcome
Weekends, Nov 28 – Dec 13
Vista Campus
Keep the Plaza trees stocked with ornaments, help people choose one, and receive gifts as they come back. Great for families and students who need service hours.
Shifts Saturdays 4:15–6:30 PM, Sundays 8–10:30 AM or 10:30 AM–1 PM
Where Christmas Outreach booth in the Plaza, 2405 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista
Ages All ages welcome
Questions? Scott Hoerner · [email protected]
One-day crews at the Vista Campus
Bring a group. Many hands make light work.
Sat, Nov 28, 9 AM – 2 PM
Plaza set up crew
Turn the Vista Plaza into Christmas Outreach before the first weekend: assemble and paint the pegboard trees, hang ornaments, string lights, and make “snow juice” for the snow machines.
Where Meet in the high school parking lot, 2405 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista
Ages 11 and up
Good to know Lots of lifting, carrying and bending
Questions? Scott Hoerner · [email protected]
Sun, Dec 13, 1 – 4 PM
Gift sorting & tear down crew
Once the last gifts are in, unload the trailers, sort thousands of gifts by nonprofit partner, and take down the trees and booth.
Where Under the Palms, 2405 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista
Ages 5 and up
Good to know Lifting, carrying and bending
Questions? Scott Hoerner · [email protected]
Shop for a family
Adopt a Family
Many families are facing uncertainties and financial burdens that can make Christmas stressful. Adopt a family and make their holiday special with toys, clothes, and a gift card. You’ll be matched with a family that fits your giving budget, and you can adopt on your own or with your family, friends, or Life Group.
Sign-ups close Fri, Dec 11
A family with the Boys & Girls Club of Vista
You’ll get a family profile and wish list. Buy one special item for each child, and a gift card so mom and dad can buy something for themselves.
Partner Boys & Girls Club of Vista
Family size Your choice. Note it in the comments when you sign up.
Gifts due Wrapped, Dec 16 (11 AM–2 PM) or Dec 17 (3–6 PM)
Drop-off 410 W California Ave, Vista
- Sign up, on your own or as a group.
- Put the family size you’d like in the comments box.
- After sign-ups close, you’ll get the children’s ages, genders and gift ideas.
- Shop, wrap, and bring the gifts to the Club on Dec 16 or 17.
- The Club team delivers them in time for Christmas.
Questions? Sierra Loredo · [email protected]
Sign-ups closed Nov 6
Lifeline Adopt a Family
Sign-ups for Lifeline families have closed for this year. You can still serve Lifeline families in person on their gift distribution days, Dec 10–12.
Fill a stocking
Christmas Stockings
Fill a stocking with festive treats and a handwritten note for seniors or men in a local recovery program. It’s a simple way to brighten someone’s Christmas. Make as many as your budget allows, and note how many in the comments when you sign up.
Drop off by Dec 18
Men in recovery in Carlsbad
First Step House is a 10-day detox program for men seeking sobriety. Fill an inexpensive stocking with new men’s socks or underwear (any size), and add a chocolate bar or candy cane.
Partner First Step House of North County
Drop-off 3808 Adams St, Carlsbad
Questions? Beky Pine · [email protected]
Drop off by Dec 18
Seniors in assisted living, Vista
Fill a stocking or gift bag for a resident at Rancho Vista Senior Living. Please make stockings for both men and women, and add a Christmas note.
Partner Rancho Vista Senior Living
Drop-off 760 E Bobier Dr, Vista
- Small holiday decorations
- Fuzzy socks with skid-proof bottoms
- Holiday ornaments
- Calendars
- Soft chocolates
- Sugar-free candies (not hard candies)
- Christmas necklace or bracelet
- Crafts
- Pocket tissues
- Comb, nail file, hair scrunchies or headbands
- Notepads
- Colorful pens and pencils
- Adult coloring books
- Hand lotion
- Note cards
- Playing cards
- Crossword or word search books
Questions? Emily Vagas · [email protected]
Drop off by Dec 18
Seniors in memory care, Vista
Vista Gardens cares for residents living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s-related dementia and memory loss. Fill a stocking or gift bag, and please make stockings for both men and women.
Partner Vista Gardens Memory Care
Drop-off 1863 Devon Pl, Vista
- Small holiday decorations
- Fuzzy socks with skid-proof bottoms
- Holiday ornaments
- Calendars
- Soft chocolates
- Sugar-free candies (not hard candies)
- Christmas necklace or bracelet
- Crafts
- Pocket tissues
- Comb, nail file, hair scrunchies or headbands
- Notepads
- Colorful pens and pencils
- Adult coloring books
- Hand lotion
- Note cards
- Playing cards
- Crossword or word search books
Questions? Juanita Minick · [email protected]
Drop off by Dec 16
Homebound seniors in Ramona
The Ramona Senior Center delivers these stockings to homebound seniors in the Ramona community. Skip popcorn and hard candy, which are choking hazards, and hand sanitizer or cologne, which can be mistaken for something to drink.
Partner Ramona Senior Center
Drop-off 434 Aqua Ln, Ramona
- Small holiday decorations
- Fuzzy socks with skid-proof bottoms
- Holiday ornaments
- Calendars
- Soft chocolates
- Sugar-free candies (not hard candies)
- Christmas necklace or bracelet
- Crafts
- Pocket tissues
- Comb, nail file, hair scrunchies or headbands
- Notepads
- Colorful pens and pencils
- Adult coloring books
- Hand lotion
- Note cards
- Playing cards
- Crossword or word search books
Volunteer on site
More Ways to Serve This Christmas
Looking for another way to make a difference this Christmas? Explore hands-on opportunities to wrap gifts, prepare donations, help at holiday events, and bring joy to those in our community.
Dec 8 – 18, several shifts
Gift sorting and wrapping
Help the Boys & Girls Club of Vista receive, sort, wrap and label gifts for their holiday party, so every child’s gift is ready for pickup.
Partner Boys & Girls Club of Vista
Where 410 W California Ave, Vista
Ages All ages welcome
Dec 10 – 12
Gift distribution days at Lifeline
Welcome families, hand out gifts, and make pickup a joyful experience. Choose a three-hour shift between 11 AM and 7 PM. You’ll finish signing up on Lifeline’s website.
Partner Lifeline Community Services
Where 642 Vista Village Dr, Vista
Ages 14 and up
Questions? Maria Molina · [email protected]
Sat, Dec 12 · Folsom
Christmas Around Town
The El Dorado Hills Campus is partnering with Powerhouse Ministries again. Be a personal shopper: walk alongside guests as they shop for loved ones, carry their gifts, and help them find the right stores.
Partner Powerhouse Ministries
Shifts Three 90-minute shifts, starting at 8:45 AM
Where 745 Oak Avenue Pkwy, Folsom
Sat, Dec 19, 9 AM – noon
Gift distribution day at the Boys & Girls Club
Greet and check in Club families, find their gifts, and help load them into cars.
Partner Boys & Girls Club of Vista
Where 410 W California Ave, Vista
Ages All ages welcome
Mon, Dec 21, 2 – 5 PM
Christmas meal basket prep
Receive, sort and label donated meal baskets for Club families, and store the perishable items so every family gets a full holiday meal.
Partner Boys & Girls Club of Vista
Where 410 W California Ave, Vista
Ages All ages welcome
Tue, Dec 22, 3 – 6 PM
Christmas meal basket distribution
Welcome Club families, check them in, and hand out their Christmas meals, including the refrigerated and frozen items.
Partner Boys & Girls Club of Vista
Where 410 W California Ave, Vista
Ages All ages welcome
Make it your tradition
Ideas for whoever you’re serving with
Families with kids
Let kids pick out a gift for a child their own age in an adopted family, or fill a stocking together. Gift wrapping and distribution shifts at the Boys & Girls Club welcome all ages.
Life Groups
Adopt a family together and split the wish list, or sign up as a group for a gift wrapping or meal basket shift.
Coworkers, teams and classes
Adopt a large family, or take over a wrapping shift together. Several Boys & Girls Club shifts have room for 20 volunteers, and the Vista gift sorting crew on Dec 13 needs about 50.
Students
The Vista gift booth is a great way to earn service hours on a weekend. Lifeline’s gift distribution days are open to ages 14 and up, and three-hour shifts fit around finals and school breaks.
At church this Christmas
Pick an ornament, give a gift
The Christmas trees at the Carlsbad, San Marcos/Escondido and Vista campuses are covered in ornaments, and each one has a wish from a local family or organization. Take one home and bring it back with an unwrapped gift. Gifts are collected over three weekends, Nov 28 – Dec 13.