Donations are open now.
The 2026 campaign runs from October 1 through December 23. Supporters can choose a suggested level or give any amount.
CARE
2026 donations are open now
Medellín Holiday Cares.
The holidays are supposed to feel warm. For families already struggling to afford basic needs, December can feel very different.
From October 1 through December 23, 2026, Shirley's Fund Company is raising money to help children and families in Medellín, Colombia with food, toys and a little extra dignity and joy during the holiday season.
A bag of groceries will not solve every problem.
A toy will not change a family's financial reality.
But for one night,
one week,
or one child's memory,
a little care can mean a lot.
501(c)(3) ·
EIN 99-3010688 ·
Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Why this project exists
Every child
deserves
some joy.
deserves
some joy.
The purpose
Medellín became an important part of our lives, and Shirley's Fund created Medellín Holiday Cares as a simple way to give something back to the community.
Every December, there are parents doing the math: rent, utilities, transportation, food, school expenses — and then the holidays arrive.
For families already stretching every peso, there may simply be nothing left for a special meal, toys or the little things that make the season feel different from any other week of the year.
A child should not have to understand why there was no room in the family budget for Christmas.
Our approach stays intentionally practical: raise money, purchase food and toys locally in Medellín, and get those resources into the hands of children and families who need them.
Give locally.
Help directly.
Give a family a reason to smile this December.
Why your donation matters
For some families, the holidays are another bill they cannot afford.
Imagine being a parent who already knows there isn't enough.
You still want your children to feel excited. You still want to sit down together over food. You still want them to wake up believing the holidays are something special.
But wanting that and being able to pay for it are two very different things.
Medellín Holiday Cares exists to close a little bit of that distance.
We cannot fix every financial hardship a family is facing. We can help make sure there is food on the table. We can help put a toy into a child's hands. We can remind a family that somebody they may never meet cared enough to help.
Sometimes dignity looks like groceries. Sometimes hope looks like a wrapped toy. Sometimes kindness looks like giving a parent one less thing to worry about.
How it works
Three simple steps.
Medellín Holiday Cares is intentionally straightforward.
Raise the money.
Buy locally.
Put food and toys directly into the community.
Turn donations into food + toys.
Donations are used to purchase food staples and holiday toys locally in Medellín, helping families while also keeping spending close to the community.
Put care into people's hands.
Shirley's Fund coordinates local distribution so donated support reaches children and families during the holiday season.
2026 campaign calendar
We have until December 23.
The earlier support arrives,
the more time there is to purchase locally,
organize distribution
and reach families before Christmas.
Donations remain open through December 23, 2026.
October 1
Donations open.
The 2026 campaign officially begins.
October – December
Give + prepare.
Funds are raised while local purchasing and holiday support are organized in Medellín.
December 23
Final donation day.
The campaign closes so the final holiday support can be completed before Christmas.
2026 goal · $10,000 · donations open now
Help us make Christmas feel like Christmas for more families in Medellín.
Every contribution helps us purchase more food, more toys and reach more children and families before December 23.
Maybe you can give $100. Maybe $25. Maybe something completely different.
The amount matters less than the decision to help somebody you may never meet.
$100
Help A Family
Help provide meaningful food and holiday support for a family.
$50
Food + A Toy
Help put food on the table and some joy into a child's holiday.
$25
Help A Child
Help us provide holiday food,
toys
and practical support.
Any Amount
Give What You Can
Every contribution helps another family get closer to a brighter holiday.
Shirley's Fund Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
EIN: 99-3010688.
Donation receipts are issued by email.
Before December 23
Help us put something under the tree
and something on the table.
One family at a time
You don't have to change someone's entire life to change their holiday.
There are children in Medellín who will not know who donated.
They may never know your name.
They may simply see food in the house, a toy they did not expect, and parents who get to breathe a little easier.
That is enough.
A good act does not need an audience. It just needs somebody willing to do it.
Questions or partnerships
Want to help another way?
Local partnerships, volunteers, in-kind support, transportation help, donated goods, media and larger sponsorship conversations are welcome.
If you have a way to help us reach more children and families in Medellín before December 23, we want to hear from you.
Email: [email protected]
2026 campaign goal
Help us reach $10,000 by December 23.
The more we raise, the more food we can put on tables and the more children we can give something to open this holiday season.
See Giving Options →