The holidays are upon us and we believe it’s so important, now more than ever, to celebrate them. Coming together with friends and family and giving to others helps one feel one’s power. We ask that of our clients every day – to feel their power, to grab hold of the agency they can have over their lives, and to make good choices and take action.
Every person who walks through our doors deserves to be celebrated for taking that first step toward health and stability. Whether it’s for their first meal at the Boston Living Center, for harm reduction supplies at our Victory Connector, or to live at one of our family shelters or recovery homes – each first, courageous step is one step closer to feeling one’s power and making lasting positive change.
You have the power when it comes to helping our community’s most vulnerable.
Check out our holiday wish list below, or click here to download a PDF of the full list.
How You Can Give
GIFT CARDS: This holiday season, we hope you will consider gift cards as your best, easiest, and safest giving option for the nearly 4,000 individuals and families in our care. The following retailers are preferred: Amazon, Old Navy, Stop & Shop, Target, Walgreens, CVS, and Dunkin’. Gift cards allow our clients to choose what they want and need for themselves and their children.
AMAZON: Another no-fuss option is our Amazon Holiday Gift Registry, where you can purchase gifts requested by our clients, and the items will automatically be shipped to Victory Programs. Please note we’ve added some gift cards available through Amazon for purchase, but a few only have options at the $25 level or higher, so you may want to buy directly from the retailer in some cases.
IN-STORE: You may also shop in stores for items detailed on our Holiday Wish List below broken down by adults and children in our residential programs, members of the Boston Living Center living with HIV/AIDS, and our Mobile Prevention Team for distribution to individuals living on the streets. All items must be new and in original packaging. Neutral and solid colors are preferred for clothing and winter wear items.
Holiday Wish List
Residential Programs for Individuals and Families
Children (Ages birth – 16)
Preferred brands include but are not limited to Fisher Price, Leapfrog, Lego, Melissa & Doug, and Baby Einstein.
- Alphabet and Counting Toys
- Art Supplies
- Baby Formula
- Blocks and Stacking Sets
- Coats
- Diapers (Sizes 0-6), Pull-Ups, and Baby Wipes
- Dolls (Racially Diverse)
- Dress-Up Sets (Doctor, Vet, Chef, Mail Carrier, etc.)
- Floor Mats
- Gaming Systems and Tablets
- Gift Cards for Parents to Purchase Clothing, Coats, Shoes (Target, Walmart, Marshalls, Old Navy)
- Headphones
- Puzzles
- Sports Equipment
- Toy Cars
- Umbrella Strollers
Adults
- Art Supplies, Gel Pens, and Craft Kits
- Body and Hand Lotion for Men and Women
- Body Wash for Men and Women
- Coats
- Cross Stitch
- Facial Masks
- Fire Tablets
- Full-Size Blankets
- Full-Size Sheets
- Gift Cards (Preferred Cards Include Amazon, Old Navy, Stop & Shop, Target, Walgreens, Dunkin’)
- Hand Warmers
- Headphones (wired, over-the-ear)
- Hooded Jackets
- Journals
- Juice Boxes
- Leggings
- Manicure Sets, Nail Polish
- Menstrual Products (Pads and Tampons)
- Men’s Boxers (M, L, XL, XXL)
- Natural Hair Care Products (Cantu and Carol’s Daughter brands)
- Pillows
- Puzzles (3D)
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Shelf-Stable Snacks (chips, breakfast bars, granola, fruit snacks, cookies)
- Silk Hair Wraps
- Slippers (L, XL, XXL)
- Socks
- Sports Bras
- Sweaters
- Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
- Towels and Washcloths
- Travel-Sized Tissue Packs
- Warm Winter Wear in Neutral Colors (Gloves, Hats, Scarves)
- Women’s Underwear (S, M, L, XL, XXL)
Prevention – MPT and Victory Connector
- Instant oatmeal
- $5 Gift Cards (Preferred Cards Include CVS, Target, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, or Dunkin’)
- Belts
- Bottled Water
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Warmers
- Hooded Coats
- Leggings
- Long Underwear
- Lotion (e.g., Working Hands or other Heavy Moisturizing Creams)
- Men’s Boxers (M, L, XL, XXL)
- Nonperishable, Travel-Sized Snacks (e.g., Granola Bars, Fruit Cups)
- Sweatshirts and Sweatpants
- Sports Bras
- Travel-Sized Disinfectant Wipes
- Travel-Sized Hygiene Products (e.g., ChapStick, Lotion, Shampoo, Toothpaste)
- Waterproof Boots/Durable Footwear
- Wool Socks
- Women’s Underwear (S, M, L, XL, XXL)
Boston Living Center
- Belts
- Blankets
- Cell Phone Battery Chargers
- Coats
- Hand Warmers
- Long-Sleeved Shirts
- Men’s Underwear
- Socks
- Sweatpants
- Sweatshirts
- Women’s Underwear
- Travel-Sized Hygiene Products (e.g., ChapStick, Lotion, Shampoo, Toothpaste)
- Travel-Sized Tissue Packs
If you are unable to give an in-kind donation at this time, click here for more ways you can give to Victory Programs.
If you’d like to make a cash donation, click here.