Santa’s Secret Workshop
Giving Kids the Joy of Giving
Christmas is about more than receiving it’s about the magic that happens when you choose something special for someone you love and get to watch their face light up with joy. That simple, powerful moment is the heart behind Santa’s Secret Workshop at Village Creation Station & Shops.
Santa’s Secret Workshop gives local children the chance to experience the joy of giving. Sponsored children visit our workshop and choose three Christmas gifts for the important people in their lives parents, siblings, grandparents, caregivers, friends, or anyone who holds a special place in their heart.
Children select their gifts, wrap them with their own hands, and create handmade cards to take home and give on Christmas morning. It’s a chance for them to feel proud, capable, and connected to know that they can be part of the magic of Christmas, too.
We also want to honor the parents, grandparents, and caregivers who work tirelessly to make Christmas special. When possible, we do our best to ensure they have something meaningful waiting under the tree as well.
Our 2026 Goal
100 Children • $2,000 • One Big Christmas
Our goal for 2026 is simple and full of heart: Sponsor 100 local children through Santa’s Secret Workshop.
A $20 sponsorship provides one child with the full workshop experience choosing gifts, wrapping them, creating cards, and taking home something they are excited to give.
If we reach our goal and support continues, we won’t stop. Every additional child who gets to experience the joy of giving is something worth celebrating.
Every child matters. Every gift matters. Every act of giving matters.
How Santa’s Secret Workshop Works
1. Visit the Workshop Sponsored children come to Santa’s Secret Workshop for a special Christmas shopping experience created just for them warm, welcoming, and full of holiday magic.
2. Choose 3 Gifts Each child selects three gifts for the people they love. These may be parents, siblings, grandparents, caregivers, friends, or other special individuals in their life.
3. Wrap Their Gifts Children wrap their gifts themselves, giving them the excitement of preparing something meaningful with their own hands.
4. Make Handmade Cards Each child creates handmade cards to accompany their gifts adding a personal touch that makes every present even more special.
5. Take Their Gifts Home The wrapped gifts and cards go home with the child to be given on Christmas.
Why We Created Santa’s Secret Workshop
Many Christmas assistance programs focus on making sure children have gifts to open and that is incredibly important. But we wanted to create something a little different.
We wanted children to experience what it feels like to give.
A child who may not have the opportunity to shop for their mom, dad, sibling, or caregiver can walk into Santa’s Secret Workshop and choose something special for someone they love. That moment that feeling can be just as meaningful as receiving a gift.
Santa’s Secret Workshop is about helping children understand that they can be part of the magic of Christmas, too.
Who Can Apply?
Families may apply for sponsorship for their children. Community members may also nominate a child or family they believe could benefit.
We understand that families face financial hardship for many reasons job changes, rising expenses, emergencies, caregiving responsibilities, family transitions, and more. You do not need to fit into one specific situation to apply.
Applications Open: September 21, 2026
Applications Close: November 01, 2026
Applications are not first come, first served.
Each one is reviewed individually by the owner of Village Creation Station & Shops and a committee of participating shop vendors. Our goal is to make the process thoughtful, fair, and meaningful.
Nominate a Child or Family
If you know a child or family who could benefit from Santa’s Secret Workshop, you may use the same application to nominate them.
We Can’t Help Everyone, But We Can Help Someone
We wish we could sponsor every child who applies. Unfortunately, our resources are limited.
If your family applies and is not selected, it does not mean your circumstances are unimportant or that you don’t deserve help. It simply means we received more requests than we can accommodate.
We promise to make the greatest impact possible with every sponsorship we receive.
How You Can Help
Sponsor a Child
A $20 sponsorship provides one child with the full workshop experience.
Donate New Gifts
We are collecting new, unopened gifts for children to choose for their loved ones including adults and teens.
Gift Ideas for Santa’s Secret Workshop
Toys
Games
Books
Crafts
Stuffed Animals
Sports Items
Jewelry & Accessories
Self‑Care Items
Teen Gifts- Gifts for Adults
Please do not wrap donated gifts.
Shop the Gift Wishlist
Purchase gifts directly from our Amazon wishlist to help fill the shelves of Santa’s Secret Workshop.
Help With Workshop Supplies
We also need wrapping supplies, craft materials, cards, and other workshop essentials.
Donate Gifts Locally
Gift collection boxes will be available at participating businesses and organizations.
Volunteer
We will need volunteers to help make Santa’s Secret Workshop possible, especially during our shopping and workshop days.
Volunteers may help with organizing gifts, preparing the workshop, assisting children, wrapping gifts, creating cards, and other tasks.
Share the Program
One of the easiest ways to help is to tell someone about Santa’s Secret Workshop.
Share our posts, send this page to someone who may want to sponsor a child, or tell a local business, church, organization, or community group about our gift collection.
You never know who might see it and decide to help
Want to Host a Gift Drop Box?
Local businesses, churches, organizations, and community groups can host a Santa’s Secret Workshop gift collection box. We provide the guidelines you provide the space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the gifts for the sponsored children? Not exactly. Children choose gifts to give to others — parents, siblings, grandparents, caregivers, friends, or other loved ones.
Does each child receive three gifts? Yes. Each sponsored child chooses three gifts through the workshop.
Can a family apply for more than one child? Yes. Families may request sponsorship for multiple children in their household.
Is sponsorship first come, first served? No. Applications are reviewed individually after the application period closes.
Do I have to be a parent to nominate a child? No. Community members may nominate a child or family.
When will families find out if they were selected? After applications are reviewed and sponsorship numbers are finalized.
What if more than 100 children apply? If support allows, we will sponsor additional children beyond our initial goal.
Can I donate gifts instead of money? Absolutely — new, unopened gifts are essential to the workshop.
What kinds of gifts are needed? Gifts for children, teens, and adults — these are gifts children will choose for loved ones.
Can I donate used items? No. We ask for new, unopened gifts.
Can I wrap the gifts before donating? Please do not wrap donated gifts.
Are donations tax deductible? No. Santa’s Secret Workshop is a community program, not a charitable organization.
A Note From Village Creation Station & Shops
Santa’s Secret Workshop is deeply personal to us. Growing up, my family received Christmas assistance, and I am forever grateful for the people who helped make Christmas possible.
But I also remember wishing I could pick out something for my mom, dad, or siblings something I chose. That memory stayed with me.
Santa’s Secret Workshop was created so children can have that opportunity. We may not be able to change everything a family is going through, but we can create one meaningful moment a room full of possibilities, a child choosing a gift with love, wrapping it with pride, and taking it home with joy.
That is the kind of Christmas magic we want to create.
Thank you for helping us give kids the joy of giving.