Thank you for your interest in supporting Operation Santa!! We appreciate your help in making Christmas a little more special for kids in foster/kinship care in Iowa this holiday season.
More than 20 parties will be held throughout the state hosted by 11 different nonprofits. Our mission is to get a gift to every child placed out of home in Iowa. This would not be possible without a collaborative effort by all of these nonprofits.
We can't do this without the support of our community! We need your help to make sure no child is turned away. You can sign up below to support us financially or to commit to buying gifts from the children's wish lists.
Let's go Iowa! Let's rally together to support our state's foster/kinship families and the children in their care.
Learn more about the vision behind Operation Santa - Operation Santa 2024
Our Partnering Nonprofits Include:
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Beauty Amidst the Ashes
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Cedar Valley Angels
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Cornerstone Church
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Fostering Crossroads
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Foster SQUAD
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Foster the Family
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Four Oaks
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Kings and Queens Local
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Lutheran Services in Iowa
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My G.E.A.R. Outreach
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Seasons Center
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Setting Anchors
About Operation Santa
Operation Santa, spearheaded by Foster SQUAD, is dedicated to bringing the magic of Christmas to foster, kinship, and adoptive families in the Des Moines, Iowa area and across the state. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, including the Youth Law Center and Des Moines Public Library, the initiative ensures children in foster care experience the joy and inclusion of the holiday season. In 2023, over 465 children and 240 families were supported with gifts, celebrations, and acts of kindness that created lasting memories. This year, the goal is even bigger—to bring smiles to more than 4,000 children with the help of caring individuals like you.
Operation Santa unites more than 20 nonprofits to host festive Christmas parties and fulfill personalized wish lists, giving children a sense of normalcy and belonging during the holidays. These efforts also create opportunities for biological and foster families to come together, strengthening connections and building community. From gifts for teens in supervised living to celebrations for children across the state, every detail is designed to spread joy and make each child feel cherished.
Community support is essential to making this mission a success. Whether you purchase a gift from a child’s wish list, donate funds, or volunteer your time, your contribution helps make the holidays magical for kids who need it most. Together, we can show foster children in Iowa that they are loved and supported this Christmas season.