THE CHRISTMAS BOX INTERNATIONAL

THE CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSES SUPPORT SERVICES: THE CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSES (CBH) IN SALT LAKE CITY, OGDEN, AND MOAB WERE CREATED AND BUILT BY THE CHRISTMAS BOX INTERNATIONAL TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD ENTERS STATE CUSTODY ALONE, UNSEEN, OR AFRAID. WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH UTAH'S STATE AND COUNTY CHILD-WELFARE AGENCIES, THE HOUSES PROVIDE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, TRAFFICKING, OR HOMELESSNESS. BUT THEY OFFER FAR MORE THAN A BED AND A ROOF. EACH CHILD RECEIVES COMPASSIONATE CARE, HEALTH AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT, ASSESSMENTS, EDUCATIONAL STABILITY, AND OPPORTUNITIES SIMPLY TO BE A CHILD AGAIN THROUGH PLAY AND RECREATION. THOUGHTFUL TOUCHES - LIKE BOOK NOOKS FILLED WITH NEW STORIES AND BLANKET ROOMS STOCKED WITH SOFT, COZY BLANKETS - HELP RESTORE A SENSE OF SAFETY AND DIGNITY DURING A FRIGHTENING TIME. THIS PAST YEAR, 810 CHILDREN WERE SHELTERED, SUPPORTED, AND CARED FOR AT THE THREE CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSES. ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS, AN AVERAGE OF 39 SIBLING GROUPS ARE SERVED EACH MONTH - MEANING NEARLY 1,000 BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE ABLE TO STAY TOGETHER EACH YEAR RATHER THAN BEING SEPARATED DURING CRISIS. FOR MANY, THAT CONNECTION BECOMES THE LIFELINE THAT CARRIES THEM THROUGH UNCERTAINTY AND TRAUMA. THE CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSES ALSO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL, EMOTIONAL, OR BEHAVIORAL NEEDS UNTIL A SAFE, LONGER- TERM PLACEMENT CAN BE SECURED WITH KINSHIP FAMILIES OR FOSTER CARE. EVERY CHILD WHO WALKS THROUGH THESE DOORS IS REMINDED: YOU MATTER, YOU ARE SEEN, AND YOU ARE WORTH PROTECTING. - 188 TOTAL CHILDREN WERE SERVED AT THE MOAB CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE - 369 TOTAL CHILDREN WERE SERVED AT THE SALT LAKE CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE - 247 TOTAL CHILDREN WERE SERVED AT THE OGDEN CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE VOLUNTEERS: - MOAB CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE: 142 - SALT LAKE CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE: 472 - OGDEN CHRISTMAS BOX HOUSE: 160 - SALT LAKE CHRISTMAS BOX CLUB: 108 - BOARD MEMBERS: 8 - PROJECT ELF: 191 TOTAL VOLUNTEERS: 1,081

THE CHRISTMAS BOX RESOURCE ROOMS: ACROSS 22 UTAH COUNTIES, OUR TWENTY-THREE CHRISTMAS BOX RESOURCE ROOMS ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND TEENS IN CRISIS NEVER GO WITHOUT THE ESSENTIALS - OR THE DIGNITY - THEY DESERVE. EACH RESOURCE ROOM IS LOVINGLY STOCKED WITH NEW, DONATED ITEMS INCLUDING CLOTHING, SHOES, BEDDING, BABY SUPPLIES, SCHOOL AND HYGIENE KITS, BOOKS, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, AND TOYS. THESE AREN'T LEFTOVERS - THEY ARE GIFTS OF HOPE, CAREFULLY PREPARED SO EVERY CHILD KNOWS THEY MATTER. THESE RESOURCES SUPPORT CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE: - STAYING AT THE CHRISTMAS BOX EMERGENCY SHELTERS - LIVING IN TRANSITION TO ADULT LIVING HOMES - CURRENTLY IN FOSTER CARE OR PREPARING TO AGE OUT - RECEIVING HUMAN SERVICES IN-HOME SERVICES - BEING RAISED BY GRANDPARENTS OR RELATIVES - SERVED INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH TRUSTED NONPROFIT PARTNERS SERVING 7 COUNTRIES IN THE PAST YEAR, OUR UTAH RESOURCE ROOMS PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO 2,214 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS - EASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON FOSTER PARENTS, KINSHIP FAMILIES, AND AT-RISK YOUTH TAKING THEIR FIRST BRAVE STEPS INTO ADULTHOOD. BEHIND EVERY ITEM IS A COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND CARING NEIGHBORS WHO KEEP THE SHELVES FILLED AND THE MISSION ALIVE. OUR REACH EXTENDS BEYOND UTAH'S BORDERS AS WELL. THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, CHRISTMAS BOX RESOURCE ROOM SUPPLIES WERE SHARED WITH CHILDREN IN HAITI, INDIA, KENYA, MEXICO, ECUADOR, PERU, AND COLOMBIA - SUPPORTING 1,603 CHILDREN WORLDWIDE WHO ARE ALSO FACING HARDSHIP AND INSTABILITY. TODAY, THE CHRISTMAS BOX RESOURCE ROOMS PARTNER WITH MORE THAN 123 CHILD- WELFARE AGENCIES AND CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATIONS, ENSURING RESOURCES GET DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST. BECAUSE WHEN A CHILD ENTERS A CRISIS, THE BASICS ARE NOT "EXTRAS." THEY'RE A LIFELINE - AND A REMINDER THAT THEY ARE SEEN, VALUED, AND NOT ALONE.