Hundreds of children and their families lined up Saturday inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where Operation Care International turned a chunk of the cavernous downtown space into a one-day hub for coats, medical care and a dose of holiday joy. Kids walked out with new coats, shoes and toys, volunteers stayed busy giving free haircuts, and on-site teams offered medical and dental screenings alongside hot holiday meals.
According to Operation Care International, the annual Christmas Gift outreach is structured as a one-day celebration that also functions as a gateway to longer-term help. The group says guests are connected with partner agencies on-site so they can tap into housing, health and social-service referrals after the event wraps up. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center’s events calendar listed the Operation Care Christmas Gift on Dec. 20, 2025, confirming the downtown venue hosted the outreach.
What Families Received
As reported by CBS News Texas, roughly 9,000 people preregistered for the event. Attendees could pick up coats, blankets, shoes and toys, while volunteers ran a petting zoo and carnival-style activities to keep kids entertained. According to the station, volunteers also provided free haircuts and medical and dental screenings, served holiday meals and helped at least one family cover rent and other emergency expenses.
Voices From The Floor
“The economy’s pretty bad,” founder Susie Jennings told CBS News Texas, explaining that organizers wanted the outreach to offer both practical support and emotional encouragement. Volunteers traveled in from across North Texas, while partner organizations brought guests from area shelters so families could reach multiple services without crisscrossing the city.
Longer-Term Impact
Operation Care describes the Christmas Gift outreach as more than a seasonal giveaway. The organization’s materials say the event pairs physical aid with spiritual support and referrals that are intended to help people move off the streets and into more stable situations. The convention center listing and organizers’ information note that the event depends on thousands of volunteer hours and donated goods each year…