The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP)  and The Salvation Army of Brown County  are again partnering locally to serve families in need this holiday season through Blessing Tree 2026.

HOW IT WORKS:

Blessing Tree is a community effort to bless Brown County Indiana children in need with a $30-$40 “wish list” Christmas gift. Parents/guardians register in October. Donors are recruited to adopt/sponsor each registered child and shop for a gift from the child’s wish list in November. Registered parents/guardians pick up gifts on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Registration Opens October 1 and ends October 31.

ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER:

• Must be a Brown County, Indiana resident in need. 
• Must be a parent or guardian of a child(ren) birth to age 18
• Must register online by October 31, 2026
• Must include the child's 3 wishes for a $30-$40 gift (enter these in the fields labeled NEED, WISH, FAVORITE GENRE.)

Want To Register? Are you a Brown County resident? Are you a parent or legal guardian for a children(ren) birth to age 18? If you answer YES to both, proceed to register.

Registration

TO ADOPT OR SPONSOR A CHILD:

We need the community’s help to bless these children with their “wish list” gift. You are invited to adopt or sponsor a child or multiple children.

• Beginning November 1, hundreds of "Blessing Tags" with a child's wish information will be distributed throughout the community.
• Blessing Tags wil also be available at St. Agnes, the SVDP Pantry and The Salvation Army; or contact Cheryl Dixon at 317-319-5907 for tags.
• Deadline is November 30, 2026 for dropping off gifts. See below for specific details

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETURNING GIFTS: 

No Later than Monday, November 30, 2026, please return:

• Child's unwrapped $30-40 wish-list Christmas gift in a sturdy bag (gift cards should also be returned in a gift bag) with the child's Blessing Tag attached. 

Drop-off Locations:

The Salvation Army

(168 S Jefferson St). 

Mon-Fri 10 am-5 pm

St. Vincent de Paul Pantry

(2901 Long Lake Rd)

Mondays and Saturdays

10 am-12 pm

TO DONATE:

Want to sponsor a child and have a volunteer do the shopping for you?

Click here to SPONSOR 

All donations are managed transparently by SVDP, with both organizations co-promoting the program and ensuring quality, safety, and community impact. 

TO VOLUNTEER:

Volunteers make Blessing Tree possible and we need your help.  Cookie baking, parking lot help, musical entertainment, gift sorting, set up, tear down…these are just some of the volunteers needed.

Want to help? In early November an online volunteer sign-up will be available here. 

BLESSING GRANDPARENTS COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE: 

Come celebrate the grandparents in our community on Wednesday, December 16, 2026 between 10am-2pm at our Blessing GRANDPARENTS Open House. Stop by for refreshments, entertainment, BINGO, and special gifts for grandparents. The Open House will be held at the CYO camp OPC building (top of hill) 2230 Clay Lick Road. 

Volunteers are needed for this event. In early November, an online volunteer sign-up will be available here. 

QUESTIONS? 

Please contact: 

Cheryl Dixon – SVDP

317-319-5907 or cheryl@orrdixon.com

Thank you! Together, we’re making the holidays brighter for families in Brown County.