New and Improved Project Winter Cheer 2020-2021

If you have not already read our update on OAR’s Project Winter Cheer program, please click here to learn more. 

About Project Winter Cheer:

OAR’s Project Winter Cheer program supports children and families impacted by incarceration for the holiday season. 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 supporting this amazing program! Each child participating in this program will receive a gift card (estimated amount $50) along with a handwritten letter from their parent (that has been kept safely for 2 weeks prior to sending out) to remind them that even though they are not able to physically spend the holidays together, they are always keeping them in mind.


“Thank y’all so much to help my kids in a time of need like this. This is such a great help to my kids and a little pressure off my loved one’s back who needs help while I am in a place like this getting my self in order.” 

-A letter from a parent incarcerated in the Arlington County Detention Facility on what Project Winter Cheer means to them and their family. 

How to Support: 

WE ARE STILL COLLECTING DONATIONS OF FUNDS AND GIFT CARDS FOR THIS PROGRAM! We will be collecting through December 2020 and January 2021 or until further notice. 

  • Donate gift cards (ex. VISA, Target, Amazon, Walmart) in denominations of $25, $50, or $100 and mail them to the OAR office (1400 N. Uhle Street, Suite 704, Arlington, VA 22201).
  • Donate on the OAR website specifically to our children and family programs (Project Backpack/Project Winter Cheer) online here. We will have this donation form up year-round and for anyone who would like to donate after the “Bring a Neighbor Holiday Joy” fundraiser has concluded.
  • Volunteer to help with guardian outreach, data entry, and purchasing and mailing gift cards on behalf of OAR. Please email Stephannie Ku at sku@oaronline.org if you are interested in volunteering for any Project Winter Cheer related opportunities.
  • Help spread the word! Please help us share our social media posts about Project Winter Cheer, post on your own social media, send your friends and family the fundraiser link, etc.

Questions? Contact Stephannie Ku at sku@oaronline.org or call 703-228-7132

OAR’s Collecting Donations to Provide Gift Cards to Families Impacted by Incarceration for the Holidays

Thank you to everyone who donated towards the “Bring a Neighbor Holiday Joy“ collaborative fundraiser hosted by OAR, Volunteer Arlington, AHC Inc., Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN), and Bridges to Independence! Although the collaborative fundraiser has concluded, OAR is still collecting donations of funds and gift cards for our children and family holiday program, Project Winter Cheer. We will continue to accept donations for Project Winter Cheer all throughout the months of December 2020 and January 2021. For more information on how you can continue to support OAR’s Project Winter Cheer, click here.

Previous information about the Bring a Neighbor Holiday Joy fundraiser: 

OAR is partnering with Volunteer Arlington, AHC Inc., Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN), and Bridges to Independence to coordinate the “Bring a Neighbor Holiday Joy” program. We have officially kicked off this fundraiser online here!

Typically in the past, OAR has hosted our Annual Project Winter Cheer Toy Drive to collect donations of holiday gifts for the children and families impacted by incarceration. This year, due to the pandemic, we will not be hosting our Annual Toy Drive and Project Winter Cheer Wrapping Party event like we have in years past, but have decided to collaborate on this effort with other nonprofit organizations in our community. The decision to host “Bring a Neighbor Holiday Joy,” a collaborative online fundraiser, for Project Winter Cheer this year was made due to the safety concerns brought on by the pandemic and wanting to keep all of our participants and their families, volunteers, team members, and community members as safe and healthy as possible, with as little physical contact as possible.

This fundraising initiative will support children and families in need of gifts, resources, and more during this holiday season. For as little as $10, community members can make a significant difference. All donations can be made online on the Volunteer Arlington website. Your donations will be used to help each participating organization purchase and distribute gift cards, allowing the children and families in our programs to safely purchase their own holiday gifts and resources. The goal is to provide each child in the household with at least a $50 (minimum) gift card for this holiday season.

We cannot do this without the help of the community! We are asking people of all ages to come together to support this very tangible need. Donations will be collected through Friday, November 30th, 2020. However, OAR will still be collecting donations for our Project Winter Cheer children and family holiday program throughout the months of December and January. Donations can be made on the OAR website here. 

Questions? Email Stephannie Ku, sku@oaronline.org.