Donated Gifts from the Heart are lined up on a table for distribution to recipients with a holiday fire place scene on a screen on the wall and decorations around the room
🎄 Gifts from the Heart is back for the 2026 holiday season, and sponsorships officially open today, November 5th! 🎁

The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to come together and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Once again, UC Davis Health Staff Assembly is partnering with Sacramento County to bring a little extra joy to children, adults with disabilities and seniors in need through the annual Gifts from the Heart (GFTH) program.

Each year, this special program provides holiday gifts to individuals served by Sacramento County's Department of Health & Human Services, including Child Protective Services and Adult Services. Through the generosity of UC Davis Health employees, we have the opportunity to help make the holidays brighter for more than 200 individuals in our community.

Whether you choose to sponsor an individual, partner with a colleague or come together as a team, your generosity can make a lasting difference. Sponsoring is easy! Simply select a recipient from the available wish lists, shop for their requested gifts and deliver them during the designated collection dates. 

🎁 How to Participate

  1. Select a recipient: Visit the Wish List to sign up.
  2. Shop their wish list: Purchase the requested gifts for your selected child, adult with a disability or senior. Please remember that sponsoring an individual means committing to fulfilling their entire wish list. Many people team up for an individual sponsorship and purchase all items as a group for one recipient. This also makes an amazing team building experience!
  3. Prepare your gifts: All gifts must be new, with price tags removed. Wrap each gift in holiday paper or place it in a gift bag and complete a yellow gift tag. Yellow gift tags are available to print and will also be available at drop-off locations. Download the GFTH Yellow Tag PDF 
  4. Drop off your gifts: Deliver your gifts to a designated collection location during the scheduled drop-off dates.

📅 Important Dates

  • Sponsorships Open: November 5, 2026
  • Gift Drop-Off Dates: November 30 – December 9, 2026
    • HAS Building, Valley Oak Room 2001 – December 1st, 9am – 11am
    • HAS Building, Valley Oak Room 2001 – December 3rd, 9am – 11am
    • HAS Building, Valley Oak Room 2001 – December 8th, 1pm – 3pm
    • HAS Building, Valley Oak Room 2001 – December 9th, 11am – 1pm
    • North Addition, Room 1001 – November 30th, 7am – 12pm
    • North Addition, Room 1001 – December 1st, 2pm – 6pm
    • North Addition, Room 1001 – December 2nd, 12pm – 5pm
    • North Addition, Room 1001 – December 9th, 9:30am – 5pm

❤️ A Little Generosity Goes a Long Way!

Our UC Davis Health teams have always demonstrated incredible generosity and compassion when it comes to supporting our community, and we hope you'll consider joining us for this year's Gifts from the Heart program.  Every wish list represents someone who could use a little extra kindness this holiday season. Whether it's a child excited to open a special gift or a senior who might otherwise go without, your thoughtfulness can help make the season brighter.

Please see the flyer for additional information and share this opportunity with your teams!

For questions, please contact:

Thank you, as always, for the kindness, generosity and heart you bring to our community. Together, we can help make this holiday season a little brighter for those who need it most! 💙💛

Happy Holidays! 🎄
Donated bicycles for children are lined up for distribution to the recipients as part of Gifts from the Heart donations