Start the Season with Meaning

Thirt13n Holiday Giving Program 2025

Start the Season with Meaning

Thirt13n Holiday Giving Program 2025

🎅 🌲 🎁 ❄️ ❤️

Thirt13n’s Holiday Giving Program is powered by people and partners who believe every child deserves a season filled with warmth, dignity, and hope.

When you give, you’re not simply donating items — you’re helping families feel supported, seen, and cared for during a time that can be especially difficult. Your support makes holiday memories possible and reminds young people that their community is standing with them.

Share the Spirit of the Season

Across Virginia’s rural towns, families are working tirelessly to stay together but often fall through the cracks—earning just enough to miss assistance programs but not enough to meet basic needs.

At Thirt13n, we believe no family should have to choose between keeping the lights on and creating moments of joy.

Your generosity through the Thirt13n Holiday Giving Program helps families rebuild faith in their community and enjoy the holidays together. Beyond festive lights and wrapped presents, your gift provides something even greater — hope.

How You Can Help:

🙏 Adopt-A-Family: Brighten a Household

When you adopt a family, you’ll receive their ages and wish list. Provide two gifts per family member (one ‘wish’, one ‘need’) plus a grocery gift card for a holiday meal.

🧣Gift of Warmth: Keep a Family Warm

• Sponsor warm clothing, coats, blankets, and winter essentials
• Suggested Donation Levels: $100–$400 depending on household size

🎁 Gift Cards for Teens ($50–$250):

Walmart, Target, Amazon, Visa, or local grocery stores. Donate Toys: LEGO sets, Squishmallows, board games, hoodies, multicultural haircare, and more.

Who Can Participate & How Families Are Selected

The Thirt13n Holiday Giving Program supports youth and families in rural Virginia who are facing financial hardship or temporary crisis.

Families may include:

Referrals come from: 

Why Your Help Matters

Every act of kindness — whether a toy, coat, or gift card — has the power to change a life. Your generosity means: 

Referral Information

Thirt13n welcomes referrals from churches, schools, community organizations, and social service agencies throughout rural Virginia.

Referrals must be submitted by Sunday, December 15, 2025, through the contact page of our website.

Partner With Thirt13n This Holiday Season

Your kindness can brighten a home, lift a family, and give a child a moment they’ll never forget.

Alignment with Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs)

Create13 enhances Virginia’s Standards of Learning by merging creativity, career readiness, and academic objectives. Hands-on interdisciplinary projects reinforce communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity while supporting SOLs across core subjects.

  • Students practice creative problem-solving, design thinking, and artistic expression across visual arts, fashion, music, and digital media.
  • Emphasis on critique, reflection, and presentation aligns directly with Fine Arts SOL competencies.
  • Storytelling, songwriting, and digital media production strengthen reading, writing, and speaking skills.
  • Structured reflections and presentations support composition and communication standards.
  • Creative projects highlight cultural identity, heritage, and the role of art in society.
  • Students examine local and global issues through design, media, and community-focused work.
  • Coding, design, and game development reinforce logic, spatial reasoning, measurement, and problem-solving.
  • Integrates computational thinking and applied mathematics in creative contexts.
  • Students build financial literacy, entrepreneurship, professionalism, teamwork, and leadership.
  • Direct alignment with Virginia’s Workplace Readiness Skills and CTE competencies.

Create13 Six-Week Rotating Career Structure

Cycle 1: Digital Art & Graphic Design

Capstone: Personal logo or brand kit.

Cycle 2: Music Production & Audio Engineering

Capstone: Original track or remix.

Cycle 3: Fashion Design & Creative Merchandising

Capstone: Simple fashion item or mini runway show.

Cycle 4: Game Design & Coding

Capstone: Playable game or level.

Cycle 5: Film, Photography & Digital Media

Capstone: Short film or photo series.

Cycle 6: Entrepreneurship & Creative Business

Capstone: Market Day showcase.

Create13 Pathway

EXCITE (Grades K–3) – Discover Creativity

  • Creative play and hands-on art activities
  • Intro to music, color, movement, and storytelling
  • School art fairs and family exhibitions
  • “My First Design” mini-projects

ENGAGE (Grades 4–6) – Explore Creative Fields

  • Intro workshops in drawing, digital art, and instrument basics
  • Visits to local creative studios and community art spaces
  • Collaborative class projects
  • Early introduction to creative technology

EDUCATE (Grades 7–8) – Build Skills & Identity

  • Visual, media, and performing arts coursework
  • Workshops with guest artists and industry mentors
  • Leadership and goal-setting sessions
  • Financial literacy for young creators
  • Middle school 'Mini Market'

EMPOWER (Grades 9–12) – Create & Lead

  • Portfolio development and college preparation
  • Paid internships and externships
  • Guest artist and designer intensives
  • Creative Career Fair and networking events
  • Advanced studio courses

EVOLVE (Postsecondary/Apprenticeship) – Launch & Lead

  • Creative industry apprenticeships
  • University and industry partnerships
  • Business startup support through P4ct
  • Alumni showcases and mentorship