While the holidays are a joyous time for many, it can also be stressful with the pressure to provide family with gifts, food and opportunities. This past year brought a lot of change and transition for Denver Inner City Parish. As we navigate these changes, we are taking this holiday season to pause and reflect, and we will not be holding our typical holiday events this year. To help alleviate some of the stress during this holiday season, we have compiled a list of local resources and affordable gift ideas. Additionally, our food pantry will remain open throughout the holidays.
Community Resources:
Toy Drives
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- 2-1-1: Check out the map to find toy drives near you.
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- Kenzi Causes, register on December 5
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- To participate, registration is required and will open the Thursday before the event at 9 am. Registration links will be available on our Facebook page and website. Due to high demand, spots fill up quickly—usually within 30 minutes. If you are unable to register, you may come at 3 pm to see if there are toys remaining, but please note that the event closes at 3:15 pm. Anyone arriving after this time will not be able to shop.
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- Kenzi Causes, register on December 5
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- Denver Santa Clause Shop: Denver Santa Claus Shop invites parents who are referred to DSCS from Denver Human Services, Social Service Agencies and Community Partners to Shop for toys for their children ages 0-11 in early December each year. If you have a caseworker with Denver Human Services, make sure to ask them about this program.
DIY Gifts:
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- From the oven, with love: Bake cookies, brownies, and other treats and wrap them in decorative paper or put in holiday tins you can find at thrift stores or Dollar Tree.
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- Soup, for the soul: look up a delicious soup recipe, buy jars at thrift stores of Dollar Tree and put all the dry ingredients needed inside. Write the instructions on a card to go with it. Check out some recipe ideas here. Or, build a hot cocoa jar instead with cocoa mix and marshmallows on top!
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- Dry hands, no more: This cold weather is very drying for our skin, give the gift of sugar scrub that is so easy to make. Add your favorite fragrance and put it in a cute jar with a bow on top for a nice touch. Check out the recipe here.
Affordable shopping:
Buying gifts doesn’t need to be expensive. Try finding gifts for those on your list at local thrift stores and other affordable shops.
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- Dollar Tree, Family Dollar – These discount stores are a great place to find cosmetics, art supplies, toys, games, greeting cards and holiday decor.
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- Five Below – With many items geared toward pre-teens and teens, Five Below offers cosmetic gift sets, clothing, bedroom/dorm decor and sports equipment.
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- arc Thrift, Red White & Blue Thrift, Goodwill – Second-hand stores allow customers to shop for gently used clothes and shoes, toys, games, pet supplies, baby items and more. Plus, arc Thrift is a locally owned and operated nonprofit, and provides job opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Free Holiday Events:
The spirit of this season is to spend quality time with loved ones. Here are some free events to enjoy in the holiday festivities:
Mile High Holidays Drone Show: This holiday season, the Denver skyline will come alive with the inaugural Mile High Drone Show. For 40 magical nights, 400 drones will soar into the sky, creating holiday-themed animations. Starting Nov. 22 and continuing through Dec. 31, 2024, you’ll be able to witness these dazzling displays every night at 7 p.m. for free.
Mile High Tree: The aptly named Mile High Tree Presented by Xcel Energy & Xfinity is a 110-foot-tall, 39-foot diameter conical structure. It’s 10 feet higher than the tallest Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in history and contains 60,000 LED lights to create its signature programming. The tree features nightly free public light shows choreographed to multicultural holiday music and accommodating up to 140 guests at a time for an immersive viewing experience within the tree.
Denver Christkindlmarket: This outdoor event brings the most beloved elements of an authentic German holiday experience to The Mile High City. Stroll through a European village decorated for the holiday season as you shop for finely crafted artisan gifts and treats at charming wooden huts. Fuel your shopping with authentic Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German Biers and hot chocolate, and nosh on Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, Goulasch, Nürnberger Sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates.
Parade of Lights: This free holiday spectacular features more than 40 units, including extravagantly illuminated floats, giant helium-filled character balloons, magnificent marching bands, traditional equestrian units and vibrant cultural displays. And, of course, special appearances by Major Waddles the Penguin and Santa!
View more events, both paid and free, here.
From all of us at Denver Inner City Parish, here’s wishing you a happy holiday season, with peace and love in the year to come.