Every year, one of our favorite traditions here at Hoboken Grace is our annual Christmas Exchange and this year marked our 11th year of coming together to love our city and spread joy this Christmas season. 

We sat down with Danielle, our Associate Director of Engagement, to reflect on this year’s event, what it takes to pull it off, and how she’s seen God at work through it all.

The Impact at a Glance

Our goal every year is to make sure no child in our city goes without a gift at Christmas and to help every family experience the joy of the season.

Our Christmas Exchange is truly a community-wide effort:

• 580 people donated gifts

• 164 volunteers served throughout the week

• Almost 400 families received gifts

• Nearly 1,200 children were impacted

• Plus: 20 gallons of hot chocolate, 600 gift bags, and 600 bows to make every detail feel special

What Goes Into Making It All Happen

While the Christmas Exchange takes place over just a few days, planning begins much earlier. Our Bridge Events team starts preparing in early September, and the process is far more personal than many people might realize.

Every single family application and wishlist is reviewed individually. Each donor receives a specific wishlist for a specific child, so every gift is chosen with that child in mind.

Pulling off something this big takes an incredible amount of teamwork, from donors and volunteers and behind-the-scenes leaders. “We couldn’t do this without so many groups coming together,” Danielle said. “The generosity, the communication, and the helping hands leading up to this day and during the week itself are what make it possible.”

Behind the Scenes: A Team Effort 

Donor drop-off and pick-up days are full of energy and a lot of attention to detail. Nearly 600 individual gift bags need to be labeled, tracked, and handed to the right families.

“We have organized systems, trained volunteers, and lots of care,” Danielle shared. 

From volunteers verifying gifts, to elves bagging presents, wrapping extra gifts, making bows, serving hot chocolate, greeting families, and carrying heavy bags outside, it truly takes everyone playing a role.

Seeing God at Work

One of the biggest ways Danielle sees God at work each year is through the generosity of the broader community.

“It’s not just generosity with gifts, but with time,” she said. “So many people want to help in any way they can and it goes far beyond just our Hoboken Grace community. For many people in the city, this has become a staple of their holiday season.”

Some of Danielle’s favorite moments happen during gift pick-up, when families arrive. “When kids see us carrying the bags toward them, their faces just light up. That excitement and surprise never gets old. Being able to witness that joy along with the deep gratitude expressed by families walking through difficult seasons is incredibly meaningful.”

This year marked Danielle’s second time coordinating the event, and she shared how meaningful it’s been to build relationships with families year after year as she learns their stories, offers prayer and comfort, and begins to recognize familiar faces as they return. Those moments, she said, help deepen connection and remind us that this isn’t just an event, but a way to keep our community truly connected.

A Favorite Moment—and What Comes After

When asked about her favorite part of the Exchange, Danielle admitted it’s hard to choose just one.

“Seeing the space slowly fill up with presents throughout the week is powerful,” she said. “You hear ‘1,000 kids,’ but when you actually see presents for 1,000 kids, it becomes tangible. It’s a physical representation of the generosity of our community.”

And after the final pick-up day? Danielle is filled with awe and gratitude. “So many people come through our space that week. It’s a really cool opportunity to share what we’re doing here even outside of the Christmas Exchange and my prayer is always that some of those people continue to connect with Hoboken Grace and, ultimately, with God. That’s our bigger mission.”

We’re so grateful for Danielle, her team, and every volunteer and donor, who made this year’s Christmas Exchange possible. Together, we were able to bring the joy of Christmas to thousands of children and we can’t wait to see how God continues to work through it in the years to come.

If you're interested in learning more about joining the Bridge Events team, email danielle.padua@hobokengrace.com