Community Christmas
What is Community Christmas?
Community Christmas started in 2017 as a small partnership between Community ISD and First Baptist Lavon. It has since evolved into a full partnership between the District and all churches in the CISD boundaries, as well as the cities of Josephine, Nevada, and Lavon.
- 2017 - 44 families/130 children
- 2018 - 73 families/191 children
- 2019 - 93 families/250 children
- 2020 - 180 families/350 children
- 2021 - 481 children
- 2022 - 500 children
This includes non-student siblings (newborns to Pre-K 3). All students get a “Need”, a “Read”, and a “Want” gift - total for all three is $100. These students and their siblings are then anonymized and distributed to churches, cities, businesses, and private citizens that want to provide these gifts.
How can I sign up for Community Christmas?
Every year the school district opens up a sign-up sheet for eligible families. The first 500 students who are signed up and qualify for assistance will receive gifts this year. This year's form was available from October 24-28, but is now closed.
Who is eligible for Community Christmas?
Free and reduced lunch applications play a large role in determining eligibility, but anyone determined by the counselors to be financially at-risk is eligible as well. Documentation of one of the following is needed to qualify for assistance: Free/Reduced breakfast/lunch, Social Security, Medicaid, Disability, WIC, Unemployment, Lone Star, or Active Military.
What is the timeline for Community Christmas?
- Sign-up Sheet Goes Live on October 24.
- Sign-up Sheet Closes on October 28.
- Counselors Determine Eligibility of Applications by Nov. 4.
- CISD Staff will contact parents the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 11 to find out if they would like to participate and gather gift information for each child in the household.
- Lists are distributed to churches and city organizations on Nov. 14.
- Churches and City Organizations must deliver gifts to CISD gift distribution location (Athletic Complex Gym) between 12/12 and 12/14.
- Gifts distributed on Dec. 14 (6-8 pm), Dec. 15 (6-8 pm), and Dec. 16 (8 am-4 pm).
I would like to help provide gifts for families in need. How can I participate?
If you would like to help families in need, please send us an email at info@communityisd.org, and list how many students you can provide gifts for. Ideally, you would spend $95 to $100 per student. Please only pledge the amount of students you can reasonably help. Once a student is claimed, they are your responsibility to provide for. Click here to sign up: https://forms.gle/twL7ZhRsvBhLnxKN7