The holiday season at CHRIS 180, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to heal children, strengthen families and build community, normally consists of festive gatherings which allow children in  foster homes, families in its community programs, volunteers and donors to celebrate the holidays together. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, those traditions have been put on hold, but the needs of the nonprofit’s thousands of clients have only grown during this time of crisis. Now, CHRIS 180 needs the community to help make the holiday season happen for all of those they serve.  

Since the beginning of COVID-19, CHRIS 180 has expanded its outreach to provide additional services such as food delivery and distribution with mental health well-checks to more than 3,000 households each week across Metro Atlanta. The organization is also giving housing and utility assistance to families severely impacted by the pandemic. These additions complement CHRIS 180’s core counseling services to those of all ages and socioeconomic status, currently being held via virtual sessions as well as telehealth appointments for kids in more than 70 local schools. 

For the past four decades, CHRIS 180 has worked to make the holiday season special for youth in the organization’s foster homes across the community and give parents who need help the ability to also provide gifts to their children to open Christmas morning. Now the pandemic has put those traditions in danger of not happening, and they need the communities help to ensure gifts are under the tree. CHRIS 180 is asking neighborhood groups, offices, families, community organizations and individuals to donate to its annual holiday gift drives, needed now, more than ever. There are a few easy ways to support:

• Shop their Amazon Wish List for Toys and Presents: The lists are created by the parents CHRIS 180 serves in its community programs. Toys are then picked out by the parents themselves for their child, providing a sense of dignity for those who need a helping hand.

• Buy gifts from our JourneyZ Youth Wish List:  This list features handpicked items from teens and children in CHRIS 180’S foster homes. Presents are wrapped then placed under their tree to open on Christmas morning. Each present must be wrapped, labeled and topped with a bow, so supporters can also shop the Wrapping Supply Wish List.

The easiest way to give to CHRIS 180 this season is through  a monetary donation, that will enable their team to shop for gifts not selected off the wish lists. To donate, visit CHRIS180.org.