Giving Where It's Needed Most

Because of you, help was available for a family caring for their child with complex medical needs. After a toddler with chronic medical conditions grew too big for his stroller and crib, his family didn’t know how to move forward. Already struggling with medical bills, the family asked for assistance from their caseworker. Your monetary gift and gift card donations made it possible for the family to purchase a new bed capable of accommodating their son and his medical equipment.

Your donations made a challenging circumstance a little easier.

Thank you for your support.

Holiday Stories Made Possible

Thanks to You

The kids living in our homes experienced a boost in self-esteem thanks to your care and support during the holiday season:

The teens are having fun with their gifts, especially friendship bracelets, origami, and crochet kits. Friendship bracelet making was popular this year among both boys and girls. The teens sport their bracelets every day.



The teen girls in one safe home organized a fashion show with the clothes they received. They put a lot of time into planning, creating categories for the outfits, including “Winter Wear” and “Barbie” themes. They had a great time!

In preparing to go home for a holiday meal, the teens and counselors worked together to create a dish they could bring. One teen girl tried her hand at a lattice crust on a homemade apple pie. The first attempt didn’t go as planned, but after some measured breathing and a batch of fresh dough, the beautiful lattice design was a success.

One young man was in his fourth safe home, the first time with Center For Family Services, and it was the first holiday that he had gifts to open. He told his counselors he had never seen a gift wrapped for him before, and he was so gentle so as to not tear the paper. He was gifted an art set that he has used every day since, and his counselors have seen a passion blossom where once there was no ambition for the future. 

The families your gifts supported said:

"The presents were incredibly nice! The kids were so happy. Thank you!"

"WOW! I am very grateful my kids had gifts to open. The family-friendly games were so thoughtful, and we are having fun with family game nights."

“I am so shocked. I’m a single mom and I struggle financially so I didn’t know if I’d be able to give gifts this year. Thank you for helping me provide my kids with a great Christmas.”

“I can't express how thankful I am. The gifts we received truly made our Christmas special. My children have been through so much in their short lives and have seen so much negativity. However, your kindness showed them that there are wonderful people in the world—it made us all feel so special.”

“I was really stressed out about spending the holidays in a safe home with my kids, but staff really made it feel like home. We decorated the tree in the living room and the staff decorated their office doors and the hallways. It really felt like home and not a safe home facility. This made my family’s holiday extra special."

“If it weren't for the donations, my kids would not have had any Christmas gifts this year. I am very grateful."

Donor Spotlight

Nancy Levy has been a dedicated, generous, donor for over 10 years – every drive and fundraiser in that time has seen Nancy’s support. She is always thinking of the families in need throughout the year by donating socks, baby wipes, baby clothes, and much more.



Thank you, Nancy, for being a shining star in and for our community!

Women Making Waves

The Hammonton Women’s Civic Club, the Millville Women’s Club, and Sweet Escape are all wonderful groups that give support to those in need in their communities. For many years, your groups have been collecting food, clothes, personal hygiene items, and other essentials for your community.

Thank you for your dedication to uplifting women in need!

Online Giving

Your online donations are the reason help is available to meet ongoing needs.

Online giving in 2023 helped with:

• The first month’s rent to help a family transition to permanent housing
• Driver’s education courses for a mom to be able to get her license
• A new loft bed and desk for a child who outgrew their bed and needed a place to do schoolwork
• A crib for a single mother and her baby as they moved into their own, safe space
• A bicycle for a young man so he can easily commute to work and supportive care appointments
• Gift cards to a clothing store for a single mom of six so that her children had weather-appropriate clothes for the hot summer
• An air conditioning unit for a family of three, one having complex medical needs, after their AC went out in the middle of summer
• A booster seat for a toddler to travel safely
• And funds for school clothes provided to grandparents who are the guardians for their three grandchildren

Thank you for making help available when it’s needed most! 

Wonderful Winter Donors

Children all across New Jersey shared happy holiday memories, thanks to so many of you. Because of donors like you, children and families had their needs met and their wishes granted, setting a positive tone for the new year.

Thank you to every single one of our individual donors.

Your support continues to be amazing.



And a thanks to these companies and community partners:

Holiday Happiness

Your gifts helped a family who finally made the decision to leave their abusive home situation. The family, including a mom and her children, spent most of December inside a motel room, awaiting a transition to permanent safe housing. The family even had groceries brought to them for their safety. Along with her worry about their safety, the mom was worried that her kids wouldn’t have a Christmas. When her caseworker arrived with a car filled with gifts, decorations, and home essentials, she became overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude that she could barely speak.



Thanks to generous donors like you, this family experienced, “their own Christmas miracle.” She has since said that this display of generosity gave her and her young children hope for their uncertain future. Your gifts this holiday season are appreciated and change lives for the better. 

Healthy Soles Cares

Congratulations on your retirement, Kristy Thompson! Kristy of Healthy Soles Camden is a generous and frequent donor – making hygiene needs in the community a priority. Your donated items provide crucial supplies for personal care, wound care, health, and warmth to those in need of stable housing in the Camden community. Because of you, folks feel cared for and remembered.

Thank you for your staunch support and partnership! Enjoy your retirement - you deserve it! 

Become a Mentor

Mentors needed. Your support as a volunteer mentor can change a young person’s life. If you’re looking to stay involved or volunteer this year, consider becoming a mentor to help shape a positive future for a young person in need of your support. Mentors are needed across the state of New Jersey.



Your commitment to one year of service as a mentor will uplift a young person and provide them with a positive role model.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.centerffs.org/be-mentor-0

MLK Jr.'s Legacy Lives On

Martin Luther King Jr.'s spirit of service lives on in our AmeriCorps volunteers who are committed to making a difference every day of the year! This year, members focused the day of service on community gardening and its ability to provide a reliable source of food for those impacted by food insecurity.

Thank you for all of your hard work!

Your Duffle Donations Provide Support

You can help meet an ongoing need for duffle bags. Help collect new, collapsible duffle bags for children residing in foster care or safe homes. With your donation, each child will be provided with a dignified and sensible means to transport their belongings to their new, safe place to live.



It means so much to a child in an uncertain situation to be able to rely on a sturdy bag to get to their new home. If you are interested in helping meet the need, reach out and we can help you get started. 

Subaru Loves to Help

Subaru locations across New Jersey teamed up with Operation Warm to provide hundreds of coats, socks, and shoes to children in need in your communities. Thank you to RK Subaru of Vineland, Prestige Subaru of Turnersville, and Subaru World of Newton for your support.

Folks at Subaru continue to uplift families and individuals not only through this partnership, but financially as well through fundraisers like the annual Subaru Shares the Love event.

Thank you for embodying the true spirit of community giving through your support!