Christmas Project
Sharing the joy of Christ with families in our community
Every year since 1975, Calvary Baptist Church has reached out to families in need throughout our community with the Calvary Christmas Project. Calvary receives referrals through FCPS and provides about 100 families groceries and a gift for each child the week before Christmas.
The Christmas Project includes multiple parts, each offering a variety of volunteer opportunities. Please contact the Christmas Project via email or contact Calvary's church office with questions.
FOOD BOXES - Families receive Food Boxes filled with a ham, assorted canned and boxed goods, bread, milk, juice, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, beans, rice, and more. Food boxes will be organized and filled on Friday prior to Christmas Project Day (a Saturday in mid December).
CHILDREN'S GIFT WISH LISTS - Each year, we partner with local schools and the High Street Neighborhood Center to provide personal wish list gifts for the Christmas Project children. These new gifts are purchased by Calvary families from a "wish list" created by the Christmas Project families. The wish list will be available the first week of November. New gifts are brought unwrapped to Calvary to be checked and wrapped. Gifts will be given/delivered to families on Christmas Project Day.
CHRISTMAS STORE - Families are invited to pick up their Christmas food boxes, wish list gifts, and also "shop" through the donated "gently used" toys, clothing, and household items. Starting in October and running through December, donations may be brought to the EB2 basement (items will be organized and sorted). On Christmas Project Day, families will be escorted through the Christmas Store (set up in Fellowship Hall) to shop. There will also be a refreshment table set up for families to enjoy while they shop.
PRAYER ROOM - On Calvary Christmas Project Day, families will have the opportunity to share prayer requests with prayer team members when they come to pick up their food boxes, wish list gifts, and "store" items. The prayer team invites each family to spend time discussing their prayer concerns, needs, and blessings. The prayer team continues their prayers of support throughout the year. Families will be mailed cards throughout the year and are invited to other activities sponsored by Calvary.
The Calvary Christmas Project depends on the many volunteers and the generosity of our congregation. Please consider volunteering your time, talents, and financial gifts to support this year's Calvary Christmas Project.
2026 Christmas Project Information
Christmas Project Store
Calvary is accepting donations now through December for the Christmas Project Store. Please bring donations to the EB2 basement where items will be organized and sorted. On Christmas Project Day, December 12, families will be invited to "shop" the Christmas Store (set up in Fellowship Hall). There will also be a refreshment table set up for families to enjoy while they shop.
Children's Gift Wish Lists
Calvary families can visit the Gift Wish List table set up outside the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday evenings or outside the Sanctuary near the Rodes Ave. entrance on Sundays to pick up a child's wish list beginning November 1. Families can choose to sponsor an entire family or an individual child. Once a wish list has been selected, Calvary families will purchase new gifts from the wish list. Gifts will then be brought UNWRAPPED back to church, by Sunday, November 22nd (gifts can be taken to the church office or to the third floor in EB2). Once the gifts have been brought to church, they will be checked and readied for wrapping.
Gift Wrapping
Children's wish list gifts are brought to Calvary unwrapped throughout November and early December. Once the gifts have been checked, they will be ready for wrapping. Calvary families (and groups) can volunteer their time and wrapping talents on the following dates/times (these dates/times are tentative due to making sure there are gifts to wrap) on the 3rd floor of EB2:
- Sunday, November 29th from 5-7 pm
- Monday, November 30th from 1-3 pm
- Wednesday, December 2nd from 6-8 pm
- Sunday, December 6th from 5-7 pm
- Monday, December 7th from 1-3 pm
- Wednesday, December 9th from 6-8 pm
- Friday, December 12th from 6-8 pm
Additional wrapping times can be set up for groups of volunteers on additional dates/times, if warranted. Please contact the Christmas Project via email or the church office with questions.
We always accept donations of wrapping paper, tissue paper, boxes, gift bags, and gift labels. These items can be donated on the third floor of EB2.
Food Boxes
Families receive food boxes filled with a ham, assorted canned and boxed goods, bread, milk, juice, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, beans, rice, and more.
- Food boxes will be organized and labeled on Wednesday, December 9th, starting at 6 pm (gymnasium) to prepare for filling.
- Food boxes will be filled on Friday, December 11th, starting at 6 pm (gymnasium).
This is a family-friendly event, and we invite Calvary members of all ages to participate. Dinner will be provided starting at 5:30 pm on Friday, December 11th, and then we will proceed to fill and organize all the food boxes.
Christmas Project Delivery Day
December 12th, 8:30AM-1:00PM
Volunteers are needed in many areas on Christmas Project Delivery Day! Come help with:
- Prayer Room Volunteers to talk and pray with families
- Personal Shoppers to walk, talk, and shop with families in the Christmas Store
- Refreshment table Volunteers to monitor the refreshment table
- Delivery drivers to take food boxes and wish list gifts to families that are unable to pick-up
- Loaders/Organizers to load food boxes, wish list gifts, and store items for families that come to pick-up