Two women are arranging gift bags and items in black shopping bags inside an office or store space. There are various items, a purple cart, and shelves with photographs and decor in the background.

● Programs

Annual Holiday Drive

The holidays can be an especially difficult time for teens and young adults in foster care. P48’s Annual Holiday Drive exists to ensure youth feel remembered, supported, and cared for during a season that can otherwise feel isolating.

Volunteer
Volunteer

● Program Overview

Delivering Joy

Each year, P48 partners with Child Welfare and community supporters to provide customized Holiday Bags for teens and young adults in foster care. These bags include essential items, personal care products, and meaningful extras selected to reflect each young person’s needs and preferences.

Since 2019, the Holiday Drive has served more than 3,056 youth ages 13–21, reminding them that they are valued and supported by their community.

Program Structure

The Annual Holiday Drive runs seasonally, with planning and coordination taking place in the fall and distribution occurring during the holiday season. Youth are referred through Child Welfare partners, and each Holiday Bag is thoughtfully assembled to be age-appropriate, practical, and personal.

What Holiday Bags Include

Holiday Bags include thoughtfully selected clothing and cold-weather essentials, personal care and hygiene items, and meaningful extras such as gift cards or personal items chosen with each young person in mind. Comfort items are included to help teens and young adults feel supported during the holiday season. Each bag is customized to the individual youth, ensuring the support feels personal, respectful, and grounded in care rather than generic.

Who the Program Serves

The Annual Holiday Drive serves teens and young adults ages 13–21 who are currently in foster care. Many of these youth are navigating complex transitions, and the program is designed to meet both practical needs and emotional well-being during the holiday season.

Program Impact

Since launching in 2019, P48’s Holiday Drive has grown each year through the generosity of community support. The program now provides over 500 Holiday Bags annually and served 600 teens in 2025 alone, bringing the total number of young people supported to more than 3,056 youth to date. This impact is made possible by donors, volunteers, and community partners who believe every teen and young adult in foster care deserves to feel cared for, valued, and remembered during the holiday season.

  • Three women standing outside a building with large black gift bags filled with holiday items on the sidewalk in front of them. They are smiling and wearing ID badges, with a glass door behind them displaying hours of operation.
  • Two women in Christmas-themed shirts and hats smiling in front of a neon sign that reads 'Project 48' with a red background.
  • A smiling man holding a bag of snacks labeled 'Kylie' in a room decorated for Christmas, with a 'Project Forty Eight' backdrop and holiday decorations.
  • Three people standing in front of a decorated Christmas backdrop with a Christmas tree, gift boxes, and a banner from Project Forty Eight, holding bags of gifts and wearing holiday sweaters.
  • People gathered around a table packing bags, with shelves of supplies in the background, in what appears to be a community or volunteer event.
  • Young man holding a large black gift bag with a pink label that reads 'Happy Holidays', standing near a decorated Christmas tree and other gift bags in a room decorated for the holidays.
  • People standing inside a bike shop with several bicycles on display, including pink and red bikes in the foreground, and a table with accessories. There is a sign that reads 'project 48' on the wall.
  • A woman standing in front of a decorated Christmas display with Christmas presents, a decorated Christmas tree, and a woman smiling, holding a gift wrapped in red and green holiday wrapping paper, with penguin-themed boxes and Santa hats around her.
A woman standing by shopping carts in an indoor parking garage, smiling, holding a shopping cart on her left and a shopping bag in her right hand, with a sign that says 'Restrooms' on the wall behind her.

● Program Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Youth are referred through Child Welfare partners and community agencies.

  • Yes. Community members and corporate partners can support through donations, sponsorships, or volunteering.

  • Yes. Each bag is tailored to the individual youth whenever possible.

  • You can donate, volunteer, or partner with P48 to support the program.