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Community Christmas

Community Christmas continues to be one of the most impactful charity programs in Brave Nation, having served 3,310 children and their families since 2017. In its eight-year history, the program has collected and distributed over $200,000 in gifts, food (discontinued), and blankets to Braves in need. This program is only possible because of YOUR generous support!

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 - 130 children
  • 2018 - 191 children
  • 2019 - 250 children
  • 2020 - 350 children
  • 2021 - 481 children
  • 2022 - 500 children
  • 2023 - 500 children
  • 2024 - 448 children
  • 2025 - 460 children
  • Total - 3,310 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 2025 signup deadline has passed, but the 2026 form will open in late October.

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 28 at 1 pm
  • Sign-up Sheet Closes on October 31 at 5 pm, or if it reaches 375 students registered before that deadline.
  • Counselors Determine Eligibility of Applications by Nov. 6.
  • Lists are distributed to churches and city organizations on Nov. 13.
  • Churches and City Organizations must deliver gifts to CISD gift distribution location Terry Pope Administration between Dec. 2 and Dec. 6.

  • Gifts distributed on Dec. 9 (5-6:30 pm), Dec. 10 (5-6:30 pm) and Dec. 11 (5-6:30 pm)

  • All gifts not picked up by December 12 will be surrendered to Community Christmas and used as gifts for families in the 2026 year.

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.