It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for some it’s stressful trying to make ends meet and while keeping Santa’s magic alive.

We’re grateful to work with many caring organizations to coordinate giving across Morgan County.

At Churches in Mission, we partner with schools, Head Start, and local agencies to identify families in need. Organizing family adoptions through one countywide site helps us cover as many families as possible without duplication. We collaborate with more than 40 agencies and sponsors to ensure fair assistance. Families without sponsors shop at our Christmas Shops in Mooresville and Martinsville.

Please review the program details below to request or offer help. In 2024, over 700 Morgan County families received assistance—thanks to countless volunteers who make Christmas brighter for children in need.

How do I sponsor a family?

Sponsors Must Register by Dec. 1.

Anyone can sponsor a family. Families are referred by local organizations and complete wish lists with clothing sizes and gift ideas. Sponsors should contact the family for questions. Priority items include a Christmas dinner, clothing and gifts for children, and, if possible, extra food or hygiene items for school break (food stamps don’t cover these).

Plan on spending about $125 per child for gifts and $15–20 per family member for food and hygiene items. A family of four costs around $325. Sponsors should contact families by Dec. 10 to arrange delivery. Gifts can be wrapped or given with supplies for parents to wrap. Please avoid gift cards.

If you’re ready to sponsor, please complete this online form.

My family needs assistance. How do I sign up?

We assist families who reside in Morgan County with children age 18 (and still in school) or younger in their household. We strongly encourage any family asking for Christmas assistance to also stop by Churches in Mission throughout the year for food, hygiene, clothing and other assistance to help save funds. Families who utilize these services will be given priority.

Applications are available to pick up at Churches in Mission and shared with local school counselors, Head Start, and other agencies by mid-October.  Those with a printer are welcome to print this application, but need to bring both completed pages to Churches in Mission or your child’s school with an original signature by Thanksgiving. Please be specific on items you list if you can (“doll” is not as helpful as “baby doll with outfits,” “loves Spider Man” is helpful but “Spider Man Action Figure” is more helpful).

All families should be contacted by December 10. Please call Churches in Mission after Dec. 10 if you have not heard from a sponsor or been scheduled to shop.

Donating Gifts or Funds

Families who are not sponsored will shop at Churches In Mission’s Christmas Shop in Mooresville or Martinsville.  Donations always needed include gifts for teen girls (art kits, hair accessories, bath & body items, etc.) and teen boys (remote control vehicles, skateboards, dart boards, sports team items, handheld electronics, shaving/cologne kits, etc.), and pajamas and clothing for kids and teens (most needed: kids sizes 6/8 – 18/20 and mens S-L). Monetary donations are also helpful so we can purchase items that are needed most or, if you’re going shopping, contact us to find out what items are low. Charitable donation receipts are available.

If you’d like to “skip the trip,” you can donate items from our Amazon Wishlist or simply make a monetary donation.

Volunteer Opportunities

We can always use a few extra adult volunteers during our regular hours in December (Mooresville: MWF 9am-noon & Thur 6-8pm; Martinsville: MWF 10am-2pm).  Please message us at Facebook.com/ChurchesInMission; or email Admin@ChurchesInMission.org to learn more.

Volunteers (adults, children, and groups) are also needed to take part in Salvation Army bellringing campaign. Funds raised stay in Morgan County for rent and utility assistance. Bellringers are needed at the Mooresville Kroger, Martinsville Kroger and Walmart, and Camby Walmart. Bellringers take over for the previous shift or pick up their bell and bucket from the store’s Customer Service desk.  Visit RegisterToRing.com to learn more and sign up for a two-hour shift.

We also appreciate church groups, student groups, and others who collect gifts and food items for us during the busy holiday season. We can accept donations during our regular hours (dropoff in Mooresville is at the white garage door on the north side of the building, Martinsville dropoff is at the door to the left of the flagpole). To arrange large drop offs or tours, please message us at Facebook.com/ChurchesInMission; or email Admin@ChurchesInMission.org. We would love to make arrangements for you to see our whole operation.