Santa's Helpers: Sponsor a Child's Christmas at St. Innocent Orphanage
Give a child in Mexico a Christmas they will remember. Sponsor a wish list, join a group drive, or give toward the celebration. Gifts are due December 1.
Santa's Helpers is Project Mexico's annual Christmas program for the children of St. Innocent Orphanage in Baja California, Mexico. Each autumn, we email donors a wish list for every child, with clothing items and a special gift the child has asked for. Individuals, families, and parishes sponsor a child by buying the items on that list and shipping them, unwrapped, to Project Mexico's office by December 1. You can also choose a Group Wish List item, donate holiday food, or give money toward decorations and celebration costs.
Why Christmas Matters at St. Innocent
Every year, we work hard to provide a joyous Christmas celebration for the children of St. Innocent Orphanage: holiday meals, decorations, flowers for the chapel, special Mexican traditions, and gifts. Santa's Helpers is how friends of the ministry make all of that possible.
When you sponsor a child, you receive a wish list with the clothing that child needs and a special gift they asked for, so your gift is personal, practical, and chosen with that child in mind. It tells a child who has known loss that someone far away thought of them by name.
Five Ways to Be a Santa's Helper
Sponsor one child. Buy or collect everything on one child's clothing list and wish list. Great for families, small groups, and parish ministries.
Buy one item for every child. Provide one item for all the children, such as indoor soccer shoes. Contact the office before you purchase. Great for businesses, clubs, and larger groups.
Choose a Group Wish List item. Pick a shared gift, such as a game or sports equipment, that every child can enjoy together. Perfect if you can't sponsor a full list.
Donate holiday food. Give food and supplies for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's meals. Ideal for parishes, families, and local businesses.
Give money. Fund decorations, chapel flowers, gift boxes, holiday dinners, and special Mexican holiday traditions. Monetary gifts are accepted until Christmas, so this works for last-minute helpers too.
Not sure which fits you? Call 619-426-4610 and our Santa's Helpers Coordinator will help you choose.
How Sponsoring a Child Works
Step 1: Join the list. Sign up (or email office@projectmexico.org) to be added to the Santa's Helpers email list.
Step 2: Receive the wish lists. Every autumn we email a wish list for each child, with clothing items and a special gift they requested, along with a Group Wish List.
Step 3: Choose your child, quickly. Reply with your selection. Sponsorships are first come, first served, so list two or three names in case one is taken.
Step 4: Shop or collect. Plan on about 4 to 6 weeks. Please buy every clothing item on the list, and do not wrap anything; our staff will wrap the gifts at the orphanage.
Step 5: Pack and ship. Use a sturdy box or a storage container the child can reuse. Include a packing slip, write the child's name on several sides, and add your return address. Allow 7 to 10 business days for shipping.
Step 6: Arrive by December 1. Your box must reach our office by December 1 so the gifts can be inventoried and sent to Mexico in time for Christmas.
Key Dates
Autumn: wish lists are emailed to everyone on the Santa's Helpers list
Allow 4 to 6 weeks to shop, plus 7 to 10 business days to ship
December 1: all boxes and group gifts must reach our office
Until Christmas: monetary gifts are accepted
Sponsoring as a Parish or Group
Entire parishes and church groups have run Santa's Helpers as a collection drive. We recommend naming one coordinator as the contact person. One popular idea is a Giving Tree: list a child's items on tags, and invite each person or family to take a tag and buy that item. Want more ideas? Contact our office.
Can't Sponsor a Whole List? You Can Still Help
Choose one item from the Group Wish List, such as a game or sports equipment that every child can enjoy together. Give toward decorations, chapel flowers, gift boxes, and holiday dinners. Or donate food for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's meals. Monetary gifts are accepted until Christmas, so it is never too late to help.
Become a Santa's Helper today. Every child deserves a joyful Christmas.
Join the list: Join the Santa's Helpers List (or email office@projectmexico.org)
Download: Santa's Helpers Resource Packet (PDF)
Call: 619-426-4610 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Pacific)
What is Santa's Helpers?
Santa's Helpers is Project Mexico's annual Christmas program for the children of St. Innocent Orphanage in Baja California, Mexico. Individuals, families, and parishes sponsor a child's Christmas wish list, buy a group gift, donate holiday food, or give money toward the celebration.
How do I sponsor a child for Christmas?
Every autumn, Project Mexico prepares a Santa's Helpers wish list for each child, with clothing items and special gifts the child has requested, and emails it to everyone on the program list. To sponsor a child, reply to that email with your selection.
How do I get on the Santa's Helpers email list?
Email office@projectmexico.org and say you would like to be a Santa's Helper. The office will add you to the list to receive all program emails, including the wish lists.
What if the child I want already has a sponsor?
Sponsorships are first come, first served, so reply as soon as the wish list arrives. If the child you choose is already sponsored, the office will let you know and ask you to pick another. You can list two or three names in your first request in case one is taken.
Can a group or parish sponsor a child?
Yes. Individuals and groups can both sponsor, and entire parishes and church groups have run Santa's Helpers as a collection drive. For group sponsorships, we recommend one coordinator who serves as the contact person.
What are some ideas for a parish or group collection?
A popular approach is a Giving Tree: list the child's items on tags, and let each person or family take a tag and buy that item. For more ideas, contact the Project Mexico office.
When is the deadline, and how long do I have to shop?
Gifts must reach the Project Mexico office by December 1 so they can be inventoried and sent to Mexico in time for Christmas. Plan on about 4 to 6 weeks to shop and collect, plus 7 to 10 business days for shipping. Monetary donations are accepted until Christmas.
Do I have to buy all the clothing items on the list?
Yes. Please buy every clothing item listed for your child. If you can't get everything on the list, notify the office right away.
Do I need to wrap the gifts?
No. Please do not wrap anything. Orphanage staff wrap the gifts after they have been inventoried and transported to the orphanage.
How do I pack and ship my box?
Use a sturdy cardboard box or a Rubbermaid-style storage container, which the child can reuse as a storage bin. Include a packing slip listing every item and quantity. Write the child's name clearly on several sides of the box, and add your return address in case of delivery problems.
Where do I mail my box?
Mail boxes to the Santa's Helpers address in the program resource packet, marked "Attn: Santa's Helpers" with your child's name. Allow 7 to 10 business days for shipping, and plan around the December 1 deadline.
What can I do if I can't sponsor a whole list for one child?
Choose an item from the Group Wish List, which includes things every child can enjoy together, such as games and sports equipment. The Group Wish List changes each year and is emailed at the same time as the individual lists. You can also buy one particular item for every child, such as indoor soccer shoes; contact the office before you purchase.
Can I give money instead of gifts?
Yes. Monetary gifts go toward decorations for the property, flowers for the chapel, bows, gift boxes and tape, holiday dinners, and special Mexican holiday traditions, among other Christmas needs. Monetary donations are accepted until Christmas.
Can I donate food or other goods for the holidays?
Yes. The children enjoy holiday meals at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, and any holiday food items and supplies are appreciated. Please contact the office before sending goods or food.
Who do I contact with questions about Santa's Helpers?
Call the Project Mexico office at 619-426-4610 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Pacific) to speak with the Santa's Helpers Coordinator, or email office@projectmexico.org.