Project Christmas Presents

What is Project Christmas Presents?

For the past 11 years (even in the midst of the pandemic), REAL Life Community Services offered Christmas presents to children in need in the Cocalico School District through Project Christmas Presents. After the pandemic, REAL Life began to partner with the Neighborhood Santa program to expand the number of children served within the Cocalico School District.

Who qualifies?

Project Christmas Presents is open to all REAL Life Community Services (RLCS) clients with children from birth through high school age. Parents provide their children’s information, and RLCS partners with area churches and local businesses to ensure each child receives gifts. Presents are distributed at a Christmas Party on December 12, or parents may pick up the wrapped gifts from our offices the following week.

Over the years, this program has grown significantly. Before 2020, we served approximately 15 families, or about 30 children. In 2020, RLCS assisted 35 families and 98 children. By 2024, we provided presents for over 160 children, and in 2025 we received and distributed gifts for 277 children, 58 parents/guardians, 10 Momentum students, and 15 elderly clients. We continue to trust the Lord to grow this program so that no child—or adult—is left without a blessing at Christmas due to financial hardship. Registration opens October 1 and must be completed by October 23. For more information, please email sunny@reallcs.org or call 717-336-7797 ext. 201.

Local churches play a vital role by hosting Angel Trees in their buildings from November 1 through December 1, helping ensure that children’s gifts are purchased. We are always thankful for new church partners. In 2025, we also introduced a solution for families who missed the Angel Tree registration deadline. Thanks to an outpouring of donated toys beyond those already assigned, we created “Santa’s Workshop,” where these families could select up to five gifts per child. What began as a backup plan quickly became a tremendous blessing for mothers, grandparents, and relatives who were grateful to give the children in their lives toys, clothing, and the joy of Christmas morning.

Beyond gifts, there are ongoing needs such as wrapping paper, bows, parent gift baskets, and last-minute items for emergency situations. For this reason, cash donations are also essential to keeping the program running smoothly. Click Here to Donate

Contact

If you feel that you might be able to assist in any of these areas, we would love to have you join this project. Feel free to contact Beny Iordanescu, 717-336-7797 or email beny@reallcs.org to get plugged in to this very important project.