Urgent Needs in Christmas / Winter Essentials Program
Your Gift Will End Up in the Hands of a Real Child
When a child opens a gift from Christmas / Winter Essentials Program, it is the program’s hope that the child feels special and thinks: “this gift was meant for only me, and I am the first person to own it.”
Christmas / Winter Essentials Program strives to provide high-quality gifts that are tailored to the requests for each individual child — real Maine kids. These real kids are the reason why the program accepts only newly purchased items that are in their original packaging — free of dents, tears, and dirt.
Urgent Needs List (6/17/24)
This year, we are expanding the age range of Christmas / Winter Essentials Program to serve ages 17 and younger. The following list focuses on basic essentials that will support this broader group of youth.
Clothing for Teen Boys
- Men’s long sleeve tee shirts (adult small to 3XL)
- Men’s athletic pants (adult small to 3XL)
- Men’s sweatshirts/hoodies (adult small to 3XL)
- Men’s underwear in all sizes (small to 3XL)
- Men’s socks in all sizes
Clothing for Teen Girls
- Junior’s long sleeve tee shirts (small to 3XL)
- Junior’s athletic pants/leggings (small to 3XL)
- Junior’s sweatshirts/hoodies (small to 3XL)
- Junior’s underwear in all sizes (small to 3XL)
- Junior’s socks in all sizes
Hygiene Supplies for Both Teen Boys and Girls
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Loofahs
- Hand Soap
- Hand/Body Lotion
- Feminine Hygiene products
- Deodorant
- Nail clippers
Gift Drop Off Information
In kind gifts to Christmas / Winter Essentials Program can be dropped off at the "Donation Drop-Off Point", which is the basement door on the right side of the Evergreen Building (the 2nd building on the right after entering the MCH campus at 93 Silver Street in Waterville). Donors can drive around the back side of the Evergreen Building to access the Donation Drop-Off Point. Gifts can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Those who drop off gifts are asked to please fill out a donation slip to leave with their donation bag or box, and to label their gift with “ATTN: Christmas / Winter Essentials Program.”
If mailing in a gift, shipments should be addressed to:
Christmas / Winter Essentials Program at Maine Children’s Home
93 Silver Street
Waterville, ME, 04901
Christmas / Winter Essentials Program Needs You
In kind gifts are greatly needed and deeply appreciated all year long, as volunteers and staff at Christmas / Winter Essentials Program must build inventory throughout the year in order to meet the needs of all of the families who are served by this program.
Gifts received after this winter season will be used to prepare for next winter. There is no such thing as a gift that is “too early” or “too late”.
Below is a current list of the items that help Christmas / Winter Essentials Program prepare for the needs of children and families during the winter months.
Make a Monetary Gift to Christmas / Winter Essentials Program
Monetary gifts to Christmas / Winter Essentials Program help with the costs of running the program, such as purchasing specific items or clothing sizes when there is a shortage.
