Nonprofit Holiday Gift Giving and Volunteering

Donate Your Time or Gifts to Those in Need 

This is a growing list of New Mexico organizations that serve and support families in need. Below are specific donation and volunteer opportunities during the holiday season.

• All Faiths: Needs new, unwrapped toys for low-income families. Volunteer opportunities (1-2 hour shifts) - staff toy room when parents come to "shop" for toys for the kids. For age specific gift ideas, contact Odessa Gonzales by email or by phone 505-271-0329.

• Community Against Violence: Holiday gifts needed for children and families in need due to domestic violence. Feel the heartwarming spirit of giving by visiting the CAV main office and choosing "Angel" cards from the Christmas tree listing children's needs and holiday wishes. Purchase a gift to fill the need and return it wrapped to CAV. Contact Loretta by phone at 575-758-8082.

• Crossroads for Women: Christmas Food Boxes (75 boxes)- each box serves a family of four. Ingredients Needed: Laundry basket or decorated box, 1 (2lb) pork roast, 1lb. bag of pinto beans, 1 frozen container of green chile, 1 large onion, 1 bulb of garlic, 1 small bag of oregano, 2lb bag of potatoes, 1 frozen bag of posole, 1 bag of dried whole red chile, 1 bag of flour tortillas, 1 frozen fruit pie, holiday themed dish towel or oven mitt set. Contact Amanda Douglas by email or by phone 505-242-1010. 

• El Ranchito de los Niños: Need healthy, non-perishable food; gift cards for experiences such as movies, plays, events, Explora, etc.; gift cards for child appropriate casual restaurants; and gift cards for Smith’s, Albertsons, Walmart or Costco. El Ranchito de los Niños is a children’s home dedicated to keeping sibling groups together who might otherwise be separated in foster care. Contact Laura or Ashley by email or by phone at 505-565-4470.

• Family Promise of Albuquerque: Adopt a family for the upcoming holidays that has graduated from Family Promise of Albuquerque. These families complete wish lists and Family Promise distributes them to those wanting to adopt a family. The adopter(s) purchase gifts for the families from those lists and deliver them unwrapped to Family Promise to be wrapped and distributed to the families. Donations of wrapping paper and tape are also appreciated. They are also looking for docents to help with their Christmas Home Tours on November 19 and 20. Contact by email or by phone 505-268-0331. 

• Heading Home: Laundry detergent (any size), over-the-counter pain medication (for use at our shelter), men's underwear, toiletries (hotel size and full size), baby items (clothing, blankets, bottles, lotion, shampoo, etc.), and gift cards (grocery stores, gas stations, Target, etc.) Contact Dorothee Otero by email or by phone 505-226-1700.

• Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque: Items to create gift bags for clients of their Low Income Food & Enrichment (LIFE) program. Useful items include hygiene products, books, blankets, games, or any items that they can gift to their clients who may not have anyone or anything for the holidays. Contact Tanja Jenkins by email or by phone 505-823-8061.

• Open Skies Healthcare: Coats, gloves, and hats for behavioral health clients ages 3 to 99 years old. Contact Eliza Marquez by email or by phone 505-342-5488. 

• PB&J Family Services, Adopt a Family: Holiday gifts needed: Gift certificates, toys, educational books, clothing, blankets, bath towels, pots and pans, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hair gel, shampoo/conditioner, lotion, coloring books, drawing pads (no spiral), gel pens (no markers), color pencils, journals (no spiral), writing paper( no spiral), blankets, calendars (all sizes), deck of playing cards, plastic bowls/cups, toiletry bag-girls (empty), shaving kit-guys (empty), nylon string (assorted colors), yarn, and hair ties. Contact Donna Brew by email or by phone, 505-877-7060. 

• Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico: Bath and body gift sets, boxer shorts (S, M, L, XL), deck of cards, DVDs (recent hits or new releases), gas cards, grooming sets, insulated lunch bags, make-up bags, make-up sets, manicure & polish sets, movie tickets, pajamas (men's and women's), perfume/aftershave sets, phone cards, pocket games, restaurant gift cards, slipper socks/men's slippers, sports equipment, stamps, stationery note cards, sweats (all sizes), t-shirts (S, M, L, XL), wallets/change purses, Walmart and Target gift cards, water bottles or any other age appropriate gifts. Items for the house: Baby monitors, baking pans (8x8, 9x13), muffin and loaf pans, food platters/serving trays, grocery store gift cards, non-stick pots and pans. Contact Melissa Gomez by email or by phone 505-842-8960.

• S.A.F.E. House: Your donation of gifts or new toiletry items will be provided directly to one of the 60+ families involved in their supportive housing programs that provide advocacy, support, and rental assistance to survivors of intimate partner domestic violence and their children. Please consider one of the following options to contribute: 1) Put up our wish list and a collection box in your office or at your holiday party. We will be happy to provide you with a decorated box and will be available to pick up all donations!  2) Adopt a Family.  We will provide you with a wish list filled out by one of our families.  Staff will be available to pick up the donation and deliver it directly to the family in our program. Contact Anna Jones by email or by phone 505-242-3633.

• Samaritan Counseling: Toys, books and 250 holiday food baskets. Contact Erica Saade by email or by phone 505-842-5300. 

• St. Martin's Hospitality Center: Sleeping bags, blankets, gloves, hats, socks, coats, baby diapers (sizes 1-3), toys for children 12 and under, stuffed animals, games and books and winter clothing for kids and teens. We will also be have an adopt-a-family program for those who wish to sponsor a family and help provide Christmas gifts and food. Families participating in the program will be screened and connected through our St. Martin's case managers. Contact Carla Miszkiel by email or call her with questions at 505-242-4399.

• Wings for LIFE International: Undecorated sugar cookies, sprinkles, frosting, Crystal Light lemonade, or paper supplies (cups, plates, napkins) for the 22nd annual Christmas Family Day. Christmas gifts are also needed for infants, youth, and teens. Ideas for gifts include board games, movie tickets, fast food gift cards, men's/women's cologne, hair accessories, hand lotion, bubble bath, shampoo, toothpaste/toothbrushes, brush/comb sets, batteries (AA, AAA, C), i-Tunes gift cards, toy cars/trucks, Barbie dolls/baby dolls, teen posters, books, shoes, socks, underwear, coloring books, markers, crayons, balls (football, soccer, basketball, baseball), winter jackets/coats, gloves, hats, and gift cards (Walmart, Target, Albertsons, Smith's, Sam's Club, Costco). Contact Ann by email.

• United Way of Central New Mexico: Check out the UWCNM list of agencies, churches and schools in need of aid for the holidays to find opportunities to give back this holiday season.

If you would like to find other volunteer opportunities, check out New Mexico Volunteer Connection.

Attention Nonprofits: If you would like to add your organization's winter and holiday specific needs to this list, please email Kira Luna at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. You can also post volunteer opportunities and needs for gifts in-kind.