During the Bigs & Littles Mentorship Program, small moments often turn into powerful lessons—and this week’s holiday project was no exception. Instead of focusing on traditional gifts, our youth set aside the Materialistic and Superficial to celebrate something far more meaningful.

Together, they wrapped empty boxes and gift bags.
These weren’t ordinary presents. Each one represented something you can’t buy—family, friends, health, safety, loyalty, hope, a second chance, a place to call home.

These “gifts” may be invisible, but to our youth, they are everything.

As they talked through each concept, youth were encouraged to reflect on the intangible blessings in their lives—things they may not always recognize, yet rely on every day. For some, the meaning hit deeply: the gift of shelter, the gift of someone who listens, the gift of feeling seen. For others, it sparked gratitude for the progress they’ve made and the people walking beside them.

This project did more than fill a table with wrapped boxes and gift bags.
It filled the room with connection, perspective, and a sense of belonging—the heart of the CARE model.

During a season often dominated by shopping and overflowing wish-lists, Bigs & Littles offered a gentle reminder: the most important gifts don’t fit under a tree.

They’re the ones we feel.
The ones we give freely.
And the ones that last long after the holidays are over.