A Christmas Story: Sanctuary Holiday Family Giving Project

Because of the work we do in recovery, we hear story after story of families doing their best with very little, especially during the holidays. This year, we’re coming together as a community to change that for one family.


At Sanctuary Recovery Centers, we believe hope is practical. It looks like full cupboards, wrapped presents, and kids who feel seen and cared for. This season, our team, alumni, and community partners are joining together to support one family in need, creating a holiday they’ll remember for all the right reasons.

Nominate a Family

A Christmas Story: Sanctuary Holiday Family Giving Project

Because of the work we do in recovery, we hear story after story of families doing their best with very little, especially during the holidays. This year, we’re coming together as a community to change that for one family.


At Sanctuary Recovery Centers, we believe hope is practical. It looks like full cupboards, wrapped presents, and kids who feel seen and cared for.

This season, our team, alumni, and community partners are joining together to support one family in need, creating a holiday they’ll remember for all the right reasons.

Nominate a Family

Our Why

Every day, we walk alongside people rebuilding their lives, parents working hard to stay sober, families trying to reconnect, and caregivers doing their best with limited resources.

We also hear the quieter stories:

  • Parents choosing between paying bills and buying presents
  • Families starting over from scratch
  • Kids who may not have anything under the tree


We can’t say yes to every need we see, but this year we chose to say a big, collective YES to one family.


This project is our way of turning compassion into action together with you.

Follow the Journey

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

This page follows the full journey of our Holiday Giving Project from the moment we open nominations, to learning about a family in need, to rallying our community to help create a brighter season for them.


At Sanctuary Recovery Centers, we hear countless stories of resilience and hardship throughout the year, and the holidays often amplify both. This project is our chance to respond with compassion in action.


Here, you can follow every milestone as we come together to select a family, build their wish list, gather gifts, and deliver a holiday morning filled with warmth, dignity, and hope.

A map showing the steps of a patient 's journey to a hospital.

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

A map showing the steps of a patient 's journey to a hospital.

This page follows the full journey of our Holiday Giving Project from the moment we open nominations, to learning about a family in need, to rallying our community to help create a brighter season for them.


At Sanctuary Recovery Centers, we hear countless stories of resilience and hardship throughout the year, and the holidays often amplify both. This project is our chance to respond with compassion in action.


Here, you can follow every milestone as we come together to select a family, build their wish list, gather gifts, and deliver a holiday morning filled with warmth, dignity, and hope.

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

Step 1: Nominate a Family in Need


Dates:  December 5-10

We invite our community to nominate a family who could use extra support this holiday season.


We’re looking for families who are doing their best but maybe facing financial or life challenges.

Nominate a Family

Step 1: Nominate a Family in Need


Dates:  December 5-10

We invite our community to nominate a family who could use extra support this holiday season.


We’re looking for families who are doing their best but maybe facing financial or life challenges.

Nominate a Family

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

Step 2: Family Selection & Announcement


Dates:  December 11

Our internal team reviews all nominations carefully and selects one lucky family at random.


On this date, we will:

  • Notify the family
  • Begin creating an Amazon Registry tailored to their needs and wish list
  • Announce (with their permission and privacy respected) that a family has been chosen

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

Step 3: Building the Holiday Miracle Together


Dates:  December 12-18

Once the Amazon Registry is live, we’ll invite our staff, alumni, partners, and community to join in.


You’ll be able to:

  • Choose a gift directly from the family’s registry
  • Ship it straight to Sanctuary Recovery Centers
  • Know exactly how your contribution is helping


We’ll share gentle updates on which items are still needed so we can help cover everything, from essentials to a few fun surprises.

Step 3: Building the Holiday Miracle Together


Dates:  December 12-18

Once the Amazon Registry is live, we’ll invite our staff, alumni, partners, and community to join in.


You’ll be able to:

  • Choose a gift directly from the family’s registry
  • Ship it straight to Sanctuary Recovery Centers
  • Know exactly how your contribution is helping


We’ll share gentle updates on which items are still needed so we can help cover everything, from essentials to a few fun surprises.

Amazon Registry

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

Step 4: Final Check & Wrapping


Dates:  December 19

Our team will sort, organize, and review all donations to make sure the family has:

  • Gifts for each child
  • At least a few household essentials
  • Enough to feel truly cared for this season


Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

Step 5: Delivery Day


Dates:  December 23

On December 23, our team will deliver the gifts to the family.


We’ll share a follow-up on this page (while protecting the family’s privacy), highlighting:

  • How the community came together
  • What we were able to provide
  • A few reflections from our team about what this meant to us

Step 5: Delivery Day


Dates:  December 23

On December 23, our team will deliver the gifts to the family.



We’ll share a follow-up on this page (while protecting the family’s privacy), highlighting:

  • How the community came together
  • What we were able to provide
  • A few reflections from our team about what this meant to us


Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

True Healing & Christmas Blessings

Your Compassion Makes a Difference

As we close this year’s Holiday Giving Project, we’re reminded of the power of people coming together with purpose. Your involvement helps us live out our mission in a tangible way, extending support to a family facing real challenges and offering a moment of joy during a difficult season. Thank you for helping us turn empathy into action and for being part of a community that chooses hope, healing, and humanity.

Merry Christmas from Sanctuary Recovery Centers

Honoring Privacy and Dignity

We take the family’s privacy seriously. Any details we share publicly will be respectful and limited, focused on gratitude and impact, not their hardship. Whenever possible, we’ll share the story in a way that protects their identity while still allowing our community to see the difference they made.