JOHNSON COUNTY CHRISTMAS BUREAU ASSOCIATION

The Johnson County Christmas Bureau (JCCB) is a grass roots 501(c)(3). For 64 years, we have served neighbors of all races, religions, genders ethnicities. By providing items of warmth and sustenance to children, families and seniors in Johnson County, we strive to provide social and emotional support and enhance the overall quality of life in our County.
Our basic principles include a centralized location, selection of goods that meet individual family needs, making sure children's needs are met, pre-qualification of clients, scheduled appointments, and giving our recipients the opportunity to select their own merchandise and to shop with dignity. JCCB is the only countywide agency that provides emergency holiday assistance from newborn to nursing home across multiple product lines.
The Johnson County Christmas Bureau specializes in serving our neighbors in the Johnson County, Kansas area. More than 31,500 Johnson County residents live below the poverty level, according to the most recent 5 year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
We help low income families in Johnson County, KS by running a Holiday Shop every December at which low income families can obtain groceries, winter coats, personal care items, hats/gloves/scarves, and gifts. All clients are pre-qualified at 150% of federal poverty level and below and shop by appointment.
Approximately an additional 42,000 residents live at or below 150% of the poverty level. The need is great in Johnson County, however many times those in need remain unseen and unheard.
We strive to enhance the overall quality of life in our region. We organize a Holiday Shop each year and dedicate thousands of hours ensuring that our community families can obtain at no cost; groceries, winter coats and clothes, shoes, personal care items (including but not limited to diapers, soap, feminine care products, hygiene products, household, and cleaning products), toys, books, gifts, and more. Our Nursing Home program distributes various items such as lap quilts, slippers, socks, pajamas, holiday gifts and more. We even have a delivery program for seniors and disabled who are not able to attend. We distribute of 1 million dollars’ worth of products and merchandise. We are grateful for financial donors and supporters who contribute in-kind donations.
JCCB obtains a leased or donated warehouse space of 36,000 - 50,000 square feet each year to distribute the items. We set up the space like a store and allow our guests to shop with dignity by giving them a large selection and allowing them to choose their own merchandise. By providing items of sustenance and warmth to children in our community, we provide support for both families, children, seniors, disabled and veterans.
We are neighbors, 3500 strong determined to do more each year to help our low-income neighbors and little by little, step by step eradicate poverty and food insecurities in our community. Our volunteers, men and women of all ages and the heart and soul, of the Christmas Bureau. More than 150 serve year-round on committees another 3150 fill volunteer positions during the winter and holiday months of November and December. JCCB offers opportunities for community service, increasing awareness of poverty in our community and providing an avenue to help our neighbors in need.
JCCB is unique. We design and deliver effective programs to meeting those in need. We have a track record for over 6 decades of knowing, finding and meeting the needs through the winter months.
Safety Net Services: Filling a gap that other agencies are unable to fill to provide a more complete 'basket of services'. Poverty is complex. Each agency providing services are a part of the puzzle and to impact our community. We are also providing wrap-around services as the families are able to utilize many of the items donated year-round. The need for extra assistance during the holiday season and winter months is particularly great because of the additional demand placed on all relief agencies. We are able to fill in the gap for these agencies, who may have limited resources in the winter months and give them the opportunity to support their clients in other ways. This is a unique and a true part of our success. We have also committed to and started a program to provide much needed diapers, female hygiene products and books at other times of the year (Christmas in July) to continue meeting the needs.