A Family Shelter Christmas

Wrapped in Hope

Wrapped in Hope is egm's family shelter Christmas—two December dates centered on dignity, choice, and relationship: a shopping night, and a wrapping day. Parents lead the choices. Partners come alongside. Together, we make room for joy.

Find Your Way to Participate See How It Works

Tuesday, December 8 — Shopping Night • Thursday, December 17 — Volunteer Wrapping Day

Shopping NightTuesday, Dec 8 · 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Local retailer

ChildcareDec 8 · 5:15–9:00 p.m.

Volunteer WrappingThursday, Dec 17
3:00–8:00 p.m.

Poverty 101Required to shopOct 24 — Kirkland Nov 7 — Kenmore

Locations are shared directly with everyone who registers, along with arrival instructions and everything else you need.

People Change Here

Wrapped in Hope: a new chapter in a longstanding Christmas tradition

For many years, Angel Tree—and later the Christmas Ally Program—helped ensure that people staying at egm received gifts during the Christmas season. Wrapped in Hope continues that tradition while changing the experience.

Instead of submitting a wish list and waiting for gifts, parents now choose the gifts themselves. On Tuesday, December 8, registered shopping partners meet parents at a local retailer and accompany them as they shop for their children. On Thursday, December 17, volunteers gather to wrap.

One evening won't resolve the realities of homelessness—and we won't pretend it will. It can make room for joy, agency, conversation, and connection.

Above all, choice is part of dignity. After all, parents know their children, and each adult knows what would make the season meaningful. Wrapped in Hope is one more way egm is learning to create spaces where people can belong, heal, and become.

Wrapped in Hope at egm: a mother and her three children laughing together beside a Christmas tree

Who will take part

Based on current Family Shelter demographics, Wrapped in Hope is projected to include:

families staying at the Family Shelter

32+50

parents and children within those families

single women staying at the Family Shelter

104

adults and children in total

Of course, these are projections, and they may change as shelter occupancy changes.

Get Involved

Find your way to participate

Two December dates, several roles: shop alongside a parent on Dec 8, care for their children while they do, or help wrap on Dec 17. Giving is one form of participation—not the price of belonging.

Join the shopping experience

Accompany parents as they shop for their children's Christmas gifts. You're there to walk with them and honor their choices—not to direct the cart. Poverty 101 required.

Tue, Dec 8 • 6:00–7:30 p.m. • Location shared on registration

Join the Shopping Experience

Give to Wrapped in Hope

Meanwhile, a financial gift can stand on its own or accompany another form of participation. Gifts help provide the Christmas gifts parents choose and cover childcare, wrapping supplies, and refreshments. We welcome gifts of any amount—from individuals, businesses, churches, and community groups alike.

Designated giving page • Matching gifts welcome

Give as an Individual Give as an Organization

Shop the online wish list

In fact, you don't have to attend to participate. The online wish list is another way to provide requested gifts and supplies for the evening.

Shop from anywhere, anytime

Shop the Wish List

Volunteer with childcare

On the shopping night, volunteers care for the children of the parents who are out shopping—crafts, games, snacks, and a safe, welcoming space. Two groups: ages 3–8 and ages 9 and up. Poverty 101 is suggested, not required.

Tue, Dec 8 • Check in 5:15 p.m., through 9:00 p.m.

Volunteer with Childcare

Volunteer at the wrapping day

On a separate day, volunteers wrap the remaining gifts. No participants attend—this one is volunteers only. Come for part of the window or all of it. Poverty 101 is suggested, not required.

Thu, Dec 17 • 3:00–8:00 p.m.

Volunteer at the Wrapping Day

The Experience

How the Wrapped in Hope shopping evening works

1Register

Shopping partners take Poverty 101 first—it's free, and the two dates are linked at the top of this page. Childcare and wrapping volunteers are encouraged to take it too, though it isn't required.

Then register for the piece you want to join, and egm sends the schedule, meeting location, and what to expect. Wrapping and childcare are volunteer roles, listed above.

2Shop together

On Tuesday, December 8, partners and parents meet at a local retailer. Staff coordinate every introduction, then shopping runs 6:00–7:30 p.m. We send the address to registered partners ahead of the evening.

You accompany parents as they shop for their children's Christmas gifts—toys, books, stocking stuffers, winter clothing. Parents make the choices. Partners come alongside, never direct.

What we ask of every partner and volunteer

We designed Wrapped in Hope to be welcoming, respectful, and centered on the people staying at the Family Shelter. Everyone who takes part agrees to:

Treat each participant with dignity, respect, and compassion

Encourage participant choice rather than directing purchases

Maintain privacy and confidentiality—no photos of participants

Follow egm volunteer policies and event guidelines

Work collaboratively with participants, staff, and other partners

Help create a safe and welcoming environment

egm coordinates all details, logistics, and event activities.

Frequently asked questions

About Wrapped in Hope

Is Wrapped in Hope replacing Angel Tree and the Christmas Ally Program?+

Wrapped in Hope is the next chapter of that longstanding tradition. Angel Tree and Christmas Ally helped community partners provide gifts requested by people staying at egm. Wrapped in Hope continues that commitment while creating more room for participants to make their own choices and, when appropriate, share a coordinated experience with community partners.

Why is egm changing the program?+

Choice is an important part of dignity. Parents know their children, and adults know their own preferences, needs, and hopes for the season. A choice-based shopping experience allows participants to lead while community partners come alongside them. It also creates room for respectful connection—at egm, we believe transformation happens through relationship, and relationship begins by seeing and listening to one another.

Do I have to be a shopping companion to participate?+

No. You may volunteer with childcare on December 8, volunteer at the wrapping day on December 17, shop from the online wish list, or contribute through the designated giving page as an individual or an organization. Giving is one form of participation, not the price of belonging.

Taking part in Wrapped in Hope

Who do I shop with?+

egm staff pair shopping partners with parents and coordinate every introduction. Registered partners receive confirmation and final arrival instructions from egm before the evening.

Do I really have to take Poverty 101?+

If you're shopping alongside a parent, yes—it's free, it's one session, and it's what keeps the evening grounded in dignity rather than good intentions. For childcare and wrapping volunteers it's encouraged but not required. If you took it within the past two years, you're set; otherwise the two remaining dates are linked at the top of this page.

How will participant privacy be protected?+

egm staff coordinate every introduction and activity. Shopping partners and volunteers agree to maintain confidentiality and follow egm's event and privacy guidelines—including no photos of participants. The experience is intended to create respectful connection without placing participants on display or making the giver the center of the story.

When and where will Wrapped in Hope take place?+

Shopping is Tuesday, December 8, 6:00–7:30 p.m. at a local retailer in Snohomish County. Childcare runs that same evening, 5:15–9:00 p.m. The Volunteer Wrapping Day is Thursday, December 17, 3:00–8:00 p.m. To protect the privacy of the families taking part, we share exact locations directly with everyone who registers rather than posting them publicly.

Can my church, company, or community group participate?+

Yes. Groups may give toward the gifts parents choose, organize volunteers for either date, contribute event supplies, or offer matching gifts. Use the Give as an Organization option above, or contact Chivo Hawkins at cHawkins@egmission.org to find an option that fits your group.

A lit Christmas tree at the egm Family Shelter, where Wrapped in Hope gifts are shared

Hope Is Shared

Hope isn't something one person wraps and hands to another.

Rather, it grows when we see one another, honor each person's choices, and make room in the community. There's a place for you in Wrapped in Hope.

Find Your Way to Participate