Our seasonal programs assist children in low-income and needy families who are known to programs throughout San Mateo County. These programs include child welfare, aid payments, probation, mental health, and public health. Interested families must be referred by a County of San Mateo Employee or a community organization in order to receive these services.
Backpack and School Supply Drive
The Children's Fund School Supply Drive provides children in grades kindergarten to high school with brand new school supplies and backpacks for the upcoming school year. The drive officially begins in the summer but donations for the program are accepted year-round.
To donate to this program, please visit our Donation Page.
Costumes for Kids
Costumes for Kids provides Halloween costumes to children of needy families who cannot afford them. Wigs, masks, makeup, accessories & other Halloween-related donations are needed. We accept donations year-round.
To donate to this program, please visit our Donation Page.
Holiday Gift Program
The Children's Fund Holiday Program provides children, ages newborn to 18, with gifts during the holiday season. The gifts are requested through wish lists from low-income families known to San Mateo County. Gifts are distributed in the month of December and are donated by County of San Mateo employees and the community. We accept donations year-round, especially when the holiday season begins. Participants can also choose to fulfill the wish list for an entire family as part of the holiday "Adopt a Family" program.
In addition to monetary and gift card donations, we accept new, unwrapped items of the following, for ages newborn to 18-years-old:
- Toys
- Board games (e.g., Checkers, Shoots & Ladders, Scrabble, etc.)
- Books
- Clothing
- Sporting Goods (e.g., football, soccer ball, basketball, etc.)
- We welcome $25 gift cards from stores that supply the toys, board games, books, clothing, and sporting goods. Cash and check donations are also accepted. Checks can be made payable to "Children's Fund" and write "Holiday Program" in the memo section.
To donate to this program, please visit the Donation Page.