Volunteer
Holiday Gift Bags Project

The holidays can be a difficult and lonely time for isolated older adults and adults with disabilities in our community. However, each holiday season since 1998, friendly volunteers have delivered gift bags filled with practical and fun items to over 200 beach cities seniors and adults with disabilities in the Beach Cities Health District Care Management program.

2023 marked the 25th successful year of this program. We are proud to share the below success for the year:

  • 260 of our older adult and adults with disabilities clients received gift bags which were delivered by 157 community members, community members, including BCHD volunteers, and Redondo Beach & Manhattan Beach first responders.  
  • Hermosa Beach Girl Scout Troop #2633 contributed to our bag assembly.
  • We had 40 donors who contributed $8,457.33 to the program including:
    • 26 organizations and individuals/families donated $100 or more each.
    • MinuteMan Press and South Bay Home Health donated custom calendars.
    • Nadel Manhattan Beach donated the custom bags used to place all items inside. 
  • Holiday cards were decorated and provided to all recipients due to the generosity and care of the National Charity League, Hermosa Hermanos, Birney Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, BCHD’s Youth Advisory Council, BCHD’s Youth Advisory Group, and various community members. 
  • $3,320 of grocery gift cards were purchased and provided to our lower income seniors

We are so grateful to all who contributed to making this year another successful year!

What People are Saying About Holiday Gift Bags

  • “Receiving a Holiday Gift Bag is a return to ‘Childhood Holiday Normalcy’ like Santa was here... it also makes me feel SEEN and CARED about”- Lucy B., Client
  • "Oh let me tell you what happened yesterday! Three handsome men from the Fire Department visited me and they said that they have presents for me. I burst out crying in front of them because it was so touching. I called my family back East and told how much it meant to me. Thank you very much for thinking of me and doing all the wonderful things in our community". -Bridget, Manhattan Beach
  • “This is one senior here who really appreciates all that you do for seniors. Your organization goes the extra mile” -Nathan C., Client

It’s still not too late to contribute to this wonderful tradition this year!

Ways to Give

Donate.

  • Please consider making a donation so we may provide our recipients with grocery gift cards as well as practical and fun items.
  • 100% of contributions go directly toward the holiday gift bags
  • YES! I’d like to bring cheer to an older adult or adult with disabilities in the Beach Cities this year by sponsoring the following:

    Quantity

     

    For other contribution, please click below donate button:

     

     

    Donate via Check Payment:
    Make check payable to “Beach Cities Health District“. Download form and submit completed form along with check to:

    Beach Cities Health District
    Attn: Holiday Gift Bags
    1200 Del Amo Street
    ​Redondo Beach, CA 90277

For questions, please contact Alejandra Sierra, Volunteer Engagement Supervisor, at 310-374-3426, ext. 8160 or Alejandra.Sierra@bchd.org.


Thank You to Our 2023 Donors

Thank you for helping spread cheer through the Beach Cities Health District’s Holiday Gift Bag program. We would like to thank our donors, those who decorated a card for the bags, and our essential service volunteers and first responders who delivered the bags to older and disabled adults in the Beach Cities this holiday season.
 
The Holiday Gift Bag Program is made possible by generous donors including:

Special thanks to our volunteers
Individual community members and families 
allcove Youth Advisory Group
American Martyrs 
BCHD Board of Directors 
BCHD Youth Advisory Council
BCHD Volunteers
Birney Elementary School
Boy Scout Troops 
Girl Scout Troops 
Hermosa Beach Rotary Club
Hermosa Hermanos
Manhattan Beach First Responders
Mira Costa Key Club 
National Charity League - South Bay
Redondo Beach First Responders 
Redondo Union High School Boys Soccer Team