Christmas Shining Star

Choose a child enrolled in our programs, purchase 5 to 6 gifts from their wish list, and make Christmas morning magical for a family that needs a little extra hope.

Sponsor a Child Give a Gift Donation

450+ children served last Christmas

Spread Christmas Joy

Christmas Shining Star

Each year, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St Joseph hosts the Christmas Shining Star Project to provide gifts for children in the families we serve. Our staff delivers the gifts and wrapping paper to parents, so they can wrap the presents and create a joyful Christmas morning for their children.

Meet some families who received gifts from Shining Star

How It Works

Getting Started Is Simple

  1. Step 1: Browse and Choose a Child

    Choose a child from the list below and help make their holiday season brighter. You'll find each child's age, sizes, and wish list to make shopping easy.

  2. Step 2: Buy 5 to 6 Gifts (about $100 total)

    Purchase gifts from their wish list. You can shop in-store or ship directly to our office from Amazon or Walmart.

  3. Step 3: Drop Off or Ship to Us

    Ship your gifts to our Serve&Lift Center (8001 Longview Rd., Kansas City, MO 64134) or drop them off either at our Serve&Lift Center or our St. Joseph office (1123 S. 10th St.) between November 2nd and December 9th. In Kansas City, drop-off times are Mondays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. In St. Joseph, you can deliver them anytime we're open. That's Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  4. Step 4: We Deliver to the Family

    Our staff brings the gifts to the family before Christmas, allowing parents to wrap them and enjoy the excitement of Christmas morning together.

Gift Drop-Off Deadline: December 9th

Gifts must reach our office by December 9th, so our team has time to sort and deliver them before Christmas.

Frequently Asked Questions: General

Answers to common questions about Christmas Shining Star

How does Christmas Shining Star work?

Christmas Shining Star is a sponsorship program that connects generous donors with children and families in our community.

 

Sponsors can visit our website and choose the child or children they would like to support. Instead of being assigned a child, donors select the child or family that speaks to their heart. Once a child is chosen, that sponsorship is reserved for the donor.

 

Each child profile includes:

 

  • • First name
  • • Age
  • • Gift wish list
  • • Clothing sizes (when available)
  • • Number of siblings
  • • Family group information

 

This information helps donors choose thoughtful gifts and ensures that gifts are shared fairly among brothers and sisters when an entire family is sponsored.

 

After gifts are purchased, donors bring them to Catholic Charities. Our staff and volunteers then organize the gifts and work alongside family case managers to make sure they reach each family before Christmas.

 

How much should I spend?

We ask sponsors to provide about $100 in gifts for each child.

 

This suggested amount helps make sure every child receives a similar level of support and care, no matter who sponsors them.

 

You do not need to spend exactly $100. We simply encourage donors to stay close to that amount when they can. Every gift helps make Christmas brighter for a child and their family.

 

What should I buy?

Each child's wish list is created specifically for that child. We encourage donors to use the wish list as their primary guide while adding their own thoughtful touches if desired. A typical gift assortment might include:

 

  • • Toys or hobbies from the child's wish list
  • • Books
  • • Games or puzzles
  • • Arts and crafts supplies
  • • Sports or outdoor items
  • • Clothing if requested
What should I avoid?

To ensure every child receives safe and appropriate gifts, please avoid:

 

  • • Used items
  • • Broken or incomplete toys
  • • Clothing that is heavily branded with inappropriate language or images
  • • Toy weapons (NERF-type weapons OK) or realistic-looking weapons
  • • Violent or mature-rated games
  • • Food or homemade treats
  • • Items requiring costly ongoing subscriptions
  • • Highly scented personal care products
  • • Anything unsafe for the child's age

 

Please purchase new, unused items whenever possible.

Can I sponsor more than one child?

Yes! Many donors sponsor multiple children or an entire family.

Can I shop with friends or family?

Absolutely. Families, coworkers, Bible studies, school classes, and other groups often enjoy shopping together for a sponsored child or family.

What if I can no longer complete my sponsorship?

Please contact Catholic Charities as soon as possible. Early notification allows us to find another sponsor before the deadline.

Frequently asked questions: Sponsoring an entire family

Can I sponsor all of the children in one family?

Absolutely! Many donors enjoy sponsoring an entire family so that every sibling experiences Christmas together.

 

When browsing available children, you can easily identify siblings because the system displays:

 

  • • Family grouping
  • • Number of siblings
  • • First names
  • • Ages
Why is it important to keep gifts even?

If you sponsor an entire family, we ask that you make a special effort to keep the gifts relatively equal among all siblings.

 

Children naturally notice what their brothers and sisters receive. While wish lists and ages may differ, we encourage sponsors to keep the overall value and number of gifts as balanced as possible.

 

For example:

 

  • • A 3-year-old may receive fewer, larger toys.
  • • A teenager may receive clothing, electronics, or hobby items.

 

Those gifts may look different, but the overall generosity should feel similar.

Can I make a monetary donation instead?

Yes. Financial donations help us purchase gifts for children who have not yet been sponsored and fill in gaps when unexpected needs arise.

How do I participate as a parish, business or group?

Christmas Shining Star is a meaningful way for parishes, schools, businesses, civic organizations, and other community groups to come together to serve local children and families during the Christmas season. Groups may participate in several different ways depending on the level of involvement they prefer.

Option 1: Organize a Giving Tree

A Giving Tree is the most popular way for groups to participate.

 

A designated representative from your parish, school, business, or organization will log into the Christmas Shining Star sponsorship site and select (claim) the children your group would like to sponsor. Once claimed, those children are reserved for your organization and become your group's sponsorship list.

 

Your organization can then create a Giving Tree (or another internal sign-up system) using ornaments, tags, or cards featuring each child's first name, age, and wish list information. Participants choose a child, purchase approximately $100 in gifts, and return the gifts to your group's designated collection location.

 

Once all gifts have been collected, Catholic Charities can coordinate a pickup from your parish, business, school, or organization, or your group may deliver the gifts to our offices during designated drop-off times (see above) or by appointment.

 

This option allows your organization to manage sponsorships internally while ensuring every child is claimed through the online system and sponsored only once.

Option 2: Sponsor Entire Families

Many organizations choose to sponsor one or more complete families rather than individual children.

 

The group representative can claim every child within a family, allowing your organization to ensure that all siblings receive Christmas gifts together. Different departments, ministries, classrooms, small groups, or teams can each take responsibility for shopping for one family. When sponsoring an entire family, please plan for approximately $100 in gifts per child and keep gifts as balanced as possible among siblings.

Option 3: Individual Participation

If your organization prefers not to coordinate a Giving Tree, simply encourage members to participate individually.

 

Each person or family can visit the Christmas Shining Star sponsorship site beginning October 26, browse available children, and select the child or family they wish to sponsor. Gifts are then returned directly to Catholic Charities during scheduled drop-off hours or by appointment.

 

This option requires little coordination while still encouraging broad participation.

Option 4: Financial Support

Organizations may also support Christmas Shining Star by making a financial contribution.

 

Monetary donations help Catholic Charities purchase gifts for children whose wish lists remain unclaimed, fill gaps in sponsorships, and respond to last-minute needs. Financial gifts are a wonderful option for organizations that want to support the program but are unable to coordinate shopping or gift collection.

Other things to note

Please clearly label every gift with the information provided during sponsorship, including the child's first name and identification number. Proper labeling helps ensure every gift reaches the correct child.

 

Also, please do not wrap gifts.

 

For parishes organizing a Giving Tree or sponsoring a group of children, Catholic Charities can coordinate a pickup of the collected gifts from your parish. This simplifies logistics for parish volunteers while ensuring gifts arrive on time for sorting and distribution.

 

Prefer to make a financial gift?

A financial donation is a simple way to share hope this Christmas. Our team uses these donations to purchase presents for children who still need a sponsor, helping make Christmas morning brighter for families in our community.

Make a Donation

Questions about Shining Star? 816-659-8285

Two women holding toys for Shining Star

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