For 8 years COLA Gives has worked with the Social Workers of Richland School Districts One & Two in Columbia, SC, to provide families  in need with all the Christmas fixings for a full family meal, from turkey through the dessert, as well as gifts/clothes/toys for the children of the families. Family sizes ranged between 5 - 10 persons. In the past, we have averaged 14 - 16 families per year.

In December 2020, we provided for 30 families. Due to the large request, we secured help from our partners;  Sandhill Community Church, Reid Chapel A.M.E. Church. Both churches worked with us in the past, at the onset of the pandemic, so the Christmas Project was a natural fit.  Another partner, the Community Investment Network (C.I.N.) a national coalition of Giving Circles,  provided financial assistance.  Both Sandhill (Food Pantry) and Reid Chapel (Senior Community Garden) Churches were awarded matching grants from C.I.N. and COLA Gives, which provided funds for additional food stuffs and fresh vegetables to be given to the families receiving assistance through the Christmas Family meal Project.. 

The Community Youth Force (CYF), a Giving Circle created by Middle and High school students, and supported by COLA Gives, developed a project to provide "fresh vegetables" for Seniors in need in the community.  CYF also supported COLA Gives in the Annual Christmas  Family Dinner Project

As a new giving circle, CYF Scholars learned about philanthropy and "giving back" in a 6-month training program created by COLA Gives through a grant  from the Central Carolina Community Foundation.  Having designed their own "uniforms" (Caps & Tees), the CYF Giving Circ;le decided to "give back" to Senior members of the community.

Working with Food Share of South Carolina, and supported by COLA Gives, the CYF Scholars raised their own funds, purchased and delivered food boxes to 17 Seniors/families in the community.