Holiday Workshop

Since 2017, the Van Buren Center has offered families staying in our shelter a magical gift where the parents are empowered, uplifted, and given hope during the holiday season and when what would normally be a stressful and worriesome time of year for any family experiencing a homeless crisis.  

A room in our facility that is used January-November as a storage space is transformed for the month of December into a Winter Wonderland. The donations we receive from our Holiday Giving Drive are used in our Winter Wonderland Store for the families. Parents sign up for an appointment slot and then with the help of our Elves (volunteers), go through the store and pick out up to 6-7 new toys, a blanket, books and coloring books, clothing & shoes, underwear, and socks for each child in their family.  Then together with the Elves (volunteers), the parents wrap each gift and get to leave with their own special gift as well. On Christmas morning, parents get to see the look of excitement and joy on their child's face as they receive and open the gifts that their parent personally selected with their child in mind.