Spreading Holiday Joy to Children of Incarcerated Parents
The holiday season is upon us! What better way to celebrate than to bring smiles of joy to children throughout the community for the holidays? OAR’s annual Project Christmas Angel helps to do just that!
Held for over 20 years, Project Christmas Angel is one of OAR’s largest events of the year. On behalf of the community, we collect and wrap holiday gifts for children of incarcerated and recently released parents donated to us through our annual Toy Drive. The annual Toy Drive and Project Christmas Angel were created in an effort to assist those involved in the criminal justice system connect with their children over the holidays, as these relationships are often strained and challenged during and after incarceration.
It is so important to us that family relationships are maintained while a parent is incarcerated and after their release, and that no child is forgotten during the holidays. We ask that you – members and organizations of the community – also keep these children in mind as the holiday season approaches and get involved in this event!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up so far for our wrapping party! Unfortunately, all of the volunteer slots for our wrapping party have been filled so we are no longer taking RSVPs for this event, but there are still other ways you can get involved!
Although all of the volunteer slots for the Wrapping Party are now filled, you can still volunteer to be a driver for the event! We need volunteers to hand deliver these gifts to children who live locally. If you are interested in being a driver, please contact Heather Pritchett at hpritchett@oaronline.org. We are also still accepting donated gifts! We need new, unwrapped toys (no clothing or stuffed animals, please) for ages newborn to 18 and gift cards for teens are especially needed as well! Gift donations can be made via our Amazon wish list or dropped off to the OAR office (1400 N Uhle St, Arlington, VA 22201) during business hours. Aside from donating gifts, you can also make a financial contribution specifically for Project Christmas Angel. Your contributions will help cover the cost of mailing gifts to children who live outside the D.C. Metro area. You can mail a check, payable to OAR, or donate online via OAR’s website. If you donate online, please be sure to specify in the “comments” section that the funds are specifically for Project Christmas Angel. You can also become a sponsor of the event as well. For more info on sponsorship opportunities for Project Christmas Angel, please contact Heather Pritchett at hpritchett@oaronline.org.
Thank you in advance for your interest in and support for Project Christmas Angel! Together, we can make it our mission to bring warm smiles and holiday cheer to children of incarcerated parents and strengthen these relationships.
Mark Your Calendars For #GivingTuesday!
11.28.17
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes… #GivingTuesday! #GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back to your favorite charities and kicks off the charitable season as many prepare for the holidays and end-of-the-year giving. OAR has joined the #GivingTuesday movement this year and we want YOU to be a part of the movement and our mission too! We hope that as you plan your #GivingTuesday donations, you consider making a contribution to OAR. OAR needs your continued support to help our participants and make the community a healthier, safer place to live. Your contributions will help us provide the services and resources needed to persons incarcerated as they get ready to transition back into the community and reunite with their families.
Where to make your #GivingTuesday donations:
- Donate to us through our Facebook page! The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is matching up to $2 million of #GivingTuesday donations starting 8AM EST the day of! So please consider donating to us on our Facebook page during that time so we can get our donations matched! All you have to do is click our “Donate” button!
- You can also donate to OAR through our #GivingTuesday Campaign Page we have set up through the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Click here to visit our Campaign Page!
- Lastly, you can always send in donations through the mail or donate on our website here.
Here are some ways in which your donations help OAR and our participants:
$10 = A meal for someone who has just been released from incarceration
$50 = Provide emergency clothing, food, and transportation for an OAR participant
$100 = Provide pro-social activities for participants recently released from incarceration (i.e. movie tickets, a meal, sports games, etc.)
$250 = Provide professional attire for OAR participants seeking employment
$500 = One month of Emergency Services for one OAR participant
$1,000 = Housing assistance for an OAR participant to move out of a shelter
$5,000 = Underwrite OAR’s Project Christmas Angel, providing 1,000 gifts to more than 350 children with parents who are incarcerated
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Be a part of the movement. Be a part of our mission.
Start off the giving season with #GivingTuesday and OAR
If you have any questions, please contact Heather Pritchett, Director of Development and Outreach, at 703-228-7435 or hpritchett@oaronline.org.