Wish & Wonder isn't about creating the biggest Christmas.
It isn't about checking every item off a child's wish list.
It's about choosing things with intention.
Selected children and teens ages 5–17 will receive thoughtfully created Wish & Wonder collections built around their age, interests, preferences, and who they are.
Collections may include:
Books • Creative Activities • Journals or Art Supplies • Comfort & Sensory Items • Screen-Free Fun • Family Connection Activities • Caregiver Resources • Holiday Surprises
Because we want a child opening their collection to feel something very simple:
Someone thought about me when they chose this.
Who Is Wish & Wonder For?
There isn't one kind of family Wish & Wonder is for.
Families may be navigating:
Financial hardship or job loss.
Divorce or major family changes.
Grief or loss.
Trauma.
Housing instability.
An unexpected crisis.
A difficult transition.
Or simply a year that has been heavier than expected.
Families do not need to provide proof of income or hardship to apply.
We also won't ask families to disclose detailed traumatic experiences or convince us that their circumstances are difficult enough.
There is an optional place on the application to tell us what brought your family to Wish & Wonder this year.
Share only what you're comfortable sharing.
Receiving holiday assistance from another organization does not automatically prevent a family from participating in Wish & Wonder.
Created With Your Child in Mind
When a family applies, we'll ask about each child.
What do they love?
What makes them laugh?
What kind of books might they actually want to read?
Are they creative? Outdoorsy? A gamer? A builder? A writer? An artist? A sports fan? An animal lover?
Do they love cozy things, fidgets, puzzles, plushies, art supplies, or activities they can do with their hands?
Are there certain sounds, textures, scents, themes, or types of items they would rather avoid?
Those details help us create something that feels personal.
We cannot guarantee specific products, brands, characters, books, or requested items. Collections will depend on available donations, sponsorships, inventory, and program resources.
But we'll use what families tell us to choose thoughtfully.
✨ And for Our Littlest Family Members...
Wish & Wonder primarily serves children and teens ages 5–17.
But families don't always fit neatly into age brackets.
If a selected household also includes children under age 5, families can tell us about them on the application.
As resources allow, we'll provide a smaller, age-appropriate Little Wonder gift so younger siblings can be part of the experience too.
Little Wonder gifts are not full Wish & Wonder collections and cannot be guaranteed, but we're making room for our littlest family members in our planning from the beginning.
✨ Wish & Wonder 2026 Timeline
October 5
Family Applications & Community Partner Referrals Open
October 31
Applications & Referrals Close
By November 7
Selected Families Contacted
November–Early December
Collections Created & Personalized
December
Wish & Wonder Distribution
Applications are not first-come, first-served.
There is no advantage to applying on the first day. Families are welcome to apply at any point during the October 5–31 application period.
If your family lives in Roseburg, Drain, Elkton, or Cottage Grove and has at least one child or teen ages 5–17, you are welcome to apply.
Please submit one application per household.
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection. The number of families we're able to serve will depend on sponsorships, donations, and available program resources.
✨ Schools & Community Partners
Sometimes the families who could most benefit from a program like Wish & Wonder are the families who will never find the application themselves.
That's why we're reserving a limited number of opportunities for referrals from trusted schools, family-serving organizations, and community partners.
We're not asking you to decide who is "needy enough."
We're asking you to help us notice families we might otherwise miss.
Referral partners must receive permission from a parent or caregiver before sharing identifying information with TLITD.
We do not request proof of hardship, detailed trauma histories, diagnoses, court information, or unnecessary sensitive information.
Community partner referrals are open October 5–31, 2026.
✨ Help Bring Wish & Wonder to Life
How many families Wish & Wonder can reach this year will depend on what our community makes possible.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals can help through financial sponsorships, donated items, professional services, printing or packaging support, collection drives, and other in-kind contributions.
Whether you're helping us purchase a book, fill a collection, print family resources, or prepare dozens of packages for distribution, you're helping put something meaningful into a child's hands.