Pass the Joy
Pass the Joy 2026
Share the joy of Christmas with families across the Triangle.
Christmas is about the best gift of all: Jesus.
Even though this is the season of joy, many people across the Triangle are facing hardship, and more than anything, they feel like there is no hope.
This Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are bringing holiday meals, Christmas gifts, and the hope of Jesus to 2,500+ families across 30+ communities. Your gift brings hope that lasts long after the season ends.
Open
DONATE TOYS
All toys must be delivered by December 3 at the latest.
Buy a new, unwrapped toy (valued between $10-$20) for a child in our community. Your gift helps a child know they are loved and not forgotten this Christmas. Toys will be wrapped at our It’s A Wrap event and handed out at 16 locations in local under-resourced neighborhoods through our Christmas Adopt-A-Block. Order online and ship directly to us, or drop toys off at the Raleigh Dream Center office. Email info@raleighdreamcenter.org with any questions.
Open
DONATE FOOD
Drop off Weekdays 9 AM–4 PM
Contribute non-perishable food to help provide holiday meals for the families we serve. We need canned vegetables, boxed sides, rice, pasta, peanut butter, and other pantry staples. Drop off at Raleigh Dream Center’s office at 4301 Louisburg Rd, Raleigh – weekdays 9 AM- 4 PM.
Hosting a food drive? If you have a large quantity of donations, we would be happy to pick them up! Email operations@raleighdreamcenter.org to arrange a pickup.
Open
Volunteer: It's a Wrap!
Wednesday, December 9, 7 PM
Help a child open a gift wrapped with love! Join us to wrap thousands of toys in one night. Each gift gets a handwritten card and the message of the Gospel. Bring your family and friends – scissors, tape, and paper are provided.
Cross Assembly, 2660 Yonkers Rd
No sign-up needed
Open
Volunteer: Christmas Adopt-A-Block
Saturday, December 12, 10 AM-12 PM
Spend a Saturday morning bringing Christmas joy to a local neighborhood. Volunteers will help distribute groceries, play games with kids, pray with families, share the Christmas story, and hand out wrapped toys to the children we serve throughout the year. Join us at any of the 15 Adopt-A-Block locations. Serve at one of our biggest outreach events of the year!
- “The HUB” Dream Center Walk Up Pantry: 4301 Louisburg Rd, Raleigh
- Raleigh Millbank: 1500 Raleigh Blvd, Raleigh
- Casa de Luna: 3819 Bonneville Ct, Raleigh (bilingual volunteers desired)
- McMakin: 1424 Sawyer Rd, Raleigh
- The Oaks: 544 Lipscomb Ct, Raleigh
- The Bridges: 6456 The Lakes Dr, Raleigh
- Stonecrest: 3982 Haresnipe Ct, Raleigh
- New Hope Village 1: 217 N. Allen St, Wake Forest
- Rolling Hills: 412 E. Pilot St, Durham
- Boundary Village: 503 Culpepper Hill Ct, Cary
- Laurel Crossings: 918 Malaby’s Church Dr, Knightdale
- Washington Terrace: 1951 Booker Dr, Raleigh
- River of Raleigh: 8924 Buffaloe Rd, Knightdale
- Shady Acres: 225 Shady Acres Loop, Knightdale (Served by a partner church)
- Orchard Pointe: 2021 Orchard Hollow Ln, Raleigh (Volunteer public sign-up closed)
Every gift doubled, up to $100,000
Now – December 31, 2026
Your gift goes twice as far through our $100,000 year-end matching gift! For every dollar you give, an additional dollar is matched, doubling your impact. A $500 gift becomes $1,000 to help bring hope and restoration to our neighbors.
Your gift fuels our consistent outreach year round: our weekly food ministry, a residential recovery program helping men and women find freedom from addiction, and support for those experiencing homelessness.
The Heart Behind Pass the Joy
More Ways to MAKE AN iMPACT
For Groups and Teams This Holiday Season
Churches, corporate teams, families, and groups can serve together throughout the holiday season and all year long. Explore the opportunities below to find a meaningful way for your group to serve our community this holiday season.
Every Tuesday – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Cooking Volunteers – As early as 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Every Tuesday, we serve a free hot meal to our community, preparing approximately 250 plates. Volunteer cooking teams help make the evening possible by preparing, serving, and sharing a meal with our neighbors. Learn more about Family Night and Street Outreach.
Your group can cook onsite in our kitchen or prepare food offsite and bring it to us to heat and serve.
Want to serve but do not have the budget to provide a meal for 250 people? Email serve@raleighdreamcenter.org to learn more.
Help make the holidays special for the ~16 residents in our Dream Center Discipleship (DCD) recovery program by providing a holiday meal, gifts, or activities. Your gift directly supports DCD residents as they walk out their Christ-centered journey of healing, accountability, and transformation.
Browse the ideas below and email leanna@raleighdreamcenter.org for more information.
Holiday Meals, Activities & Outings
Give any amount | $500 to $1,000 goal
Help create special holiday memories for our DCD residents through a holiday meal, a special activity, or a group outing such as a fishing trip, a bowling day, or a shared lunch. These opportunities help residents build healthy fellowship, laugh together, and experience joy outside their daily program routines. You can sponsor an activity or help plan and volunteer.
Christmas Blessing Baskets
$100 per resident | $1,500 goal
Provide each resident with a personalized basket of practical essentials and comforts, including fresh bedding, hygiene items, and new undergarments.
Christmas Gifts
$20 per resident | $300 goal
Give a simple gift to spread some Christmas joy, such as a coffee mug, sweatshirt, hat, or Dollar Tree gift card.
Family Support & Kids’ Christmas Blessings
Designated gifts welcome
Several men in our program are working hard to restore and honor their roles as fathers. If you feel led to bless a resident’s family directly, you can contribute toward special household or children’s gifts, including:
- Gifts for a newborn son and two toddlers (one boy and one girl)
- A special Christmas gift for an 8-year-old son who loves monster trucks
Thank you for helping us share Christ’s love, encouragement, and hope with our residents and their families this Christmas!
Help us prepare food and supplies for the growing needs of our community during the holiday season. Warehouse volunteers work behind the scenes to sort, organize, and prepare donations for distribution to local families and individuals.
This is a great opportunity for groups and teams to serve together while helping ensure resources are ready to reach those who need them most.
Groups of 5+ volunteers: Email serve@raleighdreamcenter.org to schedule your group.
Individual volunteers: Sign up for a public volunteer shift.
Join a weekday Mobile Food Pantry distribution and help provide groceries to families across the Triangle. Volunteers help set up, distribute food, load vehicles, and welcome the families we serve.
View Mobile Food Pantry locations and site times.
Groups of 5+ volunteers: Email serve@raleighdreamcenter.org to schedule your group.
Individual volunteers: Sign up for a public volunteer shift.
Please note: There will be no 4th Saturday Adopt-A-Block in December. Instead, we hope you will join us for our Christmas Adopt-A-Block on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas!
We are so grateful for you. Thank you for the many ways you help make Pass the Joy possible, while also supporting consistent outreach in our community throughout the year. As we celebrate this season, we are reminded that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Our mission is to bring hope and restoration through the message of the Gospel for the people in our community. Please pray as we share the Gospel at each of our outreach events, that every person we encounter would hear the good news, believe, and place their trust in Jesus.
Thank you for being part of the Raleigh Dream Center family and helping us share the hope of Christ with our community this Christmas season.