Bringing Hope Home for the Holidays: 7th Annual Catalyst Christmas with the YMCA
For the seventh year, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is bringing our community together to ensure thousands of North Texas families experience the joy, hope, and dignity of the holiday season.
What Is Catalyst Christmas?
Catalyst Christmas is one of the Dallas YMCA's largest volunteer-driven community outreach initiatives, providing holiday gift boxes filled with non-perishable food, household essentials, personal care items, holiday treats, and messages of encouragement to families experiencing hardship across North Texas.
Last year alone, Catalyst Christmas:
Served more than 1,200 families
Impacted over 5,000 individuals
Mobilized 100+ volunteers
Reached families through 17 YMCA branches across North Texas
Distributed more than 40,000 pounds of food
Provided an additional 11,000 essential household and personal care items
As the need across our communities continues to grow, so does our commitment, and we need your help! Together, we can ensure every family receives not only essential resources but also hope during the holiday season.
How You Can Get Involved
Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers across North Texas will gather at participating YMCA branches to assemble, pack, and deliver holiday boxes to neighbors who might otherwise go without this season.
Ways to Participate
Sponsor: Your sponsorship helps provide food, household essentials, and hope to thousands of North Texas families while demonstrating your organization's commitment to strengthening our community. Sponsorship opportunities include:
Employee volunteer engagement
Brand visibility
Social media recognition
Website recognition
Holiday gift box branding
Community impact reporting
For more information on sponsorship, please contact: Melis Jones, melis.jones@ymcadallas.org
Volunteer: Join us in spreading hope and holiday cheer across North Texas! From sorting supplies to delivering boxes, every role makes a difference.
- Sorting & Preparation - December 8–11, 2026
Help sort non-perishable food items and household essentials at the Park South Family YMCA in preparation for Catalyst Christmas. - Branch Packing & Delivery Day - Saturday, December 12, 2026 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Held at participating YMCA branches across North Texas. Volunteers will assemble, pack, and deliver holiday gift boxes directly to families throughout our community.
Volunteer registration is coming soon.
Donate food, supplies, and help with deliveries, or consider a financial donation. To coordinate a donation, please contact: Niquita Spearman, nspearman@ymcadallas.org
Spread the word by sharing Catalyst Christmas on social media. Together, we can ensure that every family feels remembered and cared for this holiday season.
Because of our volunteers, donors, and sponsors, Catalyst Christmas continues to grow each year. Every box represented something greater than supplies. It reminds every family that they are seen, valued, and supported by a community that cares.
Questions about Catalyst Christmas?
Niquita Spearman, Program Coordinator