A season of giving. A community of hope.
Merry Widows Gift Gathering
Help make the holidays a little brighter for children and families walking through grief.
Join Widow Strong in creating a free holiday gift experience exclusively for Kate’s Club members, filled with practical care, personal connection, and moments of joy.
Date
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Location
At Kate’s Club • Atlanta, Georgia
Who it serves
Exclusively for Kate’s Club members
Volunteers do not need to be members.
Our 2025 Impact
Your generosity made a difference.
Last year, the Merry Widows Gift Gathering distributed $75,000 worth of gifts to 72 grieving families. Approximately $55,000 in in-kind donations and purchasing discounts contributed to that impact.
See the gathering
Relive the 2025 Gift Gathering.
Moments from the gathering
See what your support made possible.
Why we gather
A little holiday joy. A lasting reminder of love.
The Merry Widows Gift Gathering began in our own family. It started as a way to honor my late husband’s December 5th birthday by sharing gifts with one widowed family in need.
What began as one family’s birthday gesture has grown into a gathering that aims to welcome 120 grieving children and 75 caregivers this December.
For a child who has lost a parent or sibling, the holidays can bring tender reminders of someone deeply missed. Caregivers are carrying their own grief while trying to create meaningful memories for their families.
The Merry Widows Gift Gathering exclusively serves grieving children and caregivers who are members of Kate’s Club, offering a free holiday gift experience with dignity and care.
Through gifts, community, and invitations to ongoing grief support, we help families feel remembered during the holidays and connected beyond them.
The Merry Widows Map — open to read in full
What we’re working toward
Our 2026 Goals
120 Children Supported
Holiday gifts for grieving children who are Kate’s Club members, including a stuffed animal and a large STEM toy for each child.
75 Grieving Caregivers Supported
Care, connection, and a welcoming holiday experience for Kate’s Club caregivers navigating loss alongside their children.
25 New Bikes and Helmets
Help provide 25 new bikes with 25 helmets as part of this year’s gift gathering.
10 Christmas Gift Grants
Up to $1,000 each for local, vetted grieving families within Kate’s Club who are facing need. Our grant funding goal is $10,000. The full grant amount goes to the family.
The work behind the gifts
Your support helps bring more resources to families.
Last year, event coordination and donor outreach helped secure approximately $55,000 in in-kind donations and purchasing discounts, contributing to the $75,000 worth of gifts distributed to 72 grieving families.
That work brought together generous donors, discounted purchases, volunteers, and practical resources to create a meaningful holiday experience.
Previous-year support (2025 examples)
- 3,500 square feet of donated commercial event space.
- 70 boxes of Whole Body products and toys from Whole Foods.
- 50 Christmas trees and stands from The Home Depot Foundation.
- 200 STEM toys purchased at a discount from Target, with $70 toys purchased for under $45 each.
- 150 stuffed animals.
- A moving truck and 35 tables from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church to transport gifts and set up the event.
These are historical examples from last year, not confirmed 2026 sponsors or commitments.
Your financial support helps fund the planning, in-kind donor and volunteer coordination, event delivery, and follow-up that bring these resources together for grieving families.
Give with a clear purpose
Help bring it all together.
$54,050
2026 Cash Funding Goal
Your generosity supports gifts and direct family grants, along with the people and practical work needed to secure donated resources, organize volunteers, deliver the gathering, and follow up with families.
$18,200
Gifts and Gathering
Stuffed animals, STEM toys, bikes and helmets; volunteer food, transportation, setup, decor, face painting, small-group invitations, three sponsor banners, and a $2,000 event photography, video operation, and editing budget.
$10,000
Christmas Gift Grants
Up to $1,000 per local, vetted grieving family within Kate’s Club, with a goal of supporting 10 families. The full grant amount goes to the family.
$24,750
Event Coordination, In-Kind Donor Coordination, and Follow-Up
October–December fundraising, in-kind donor outreach, volunteer and event coordination, and follow-up. This allocation includes Executive Director compensation and associated employer costs, marketing support, newsletter production, and allocated shared administration and systems.
Last year, this coordination work helped secure approximately $55,000 in in-kind donations and purchasing discounts, contributing to the $75,000 worth of gifts distributed to 72 grieving families. Fundraising, donor outreach, volunteer coordination, and follow-up are what bring donated goods and services into the gathering.
$1,100
Annual Liability Insurance
The full annual liability insurance premium needed to support the gathering.
This is a projected cash budget. Donated goods and services are additional and excluded from the $54,050 goal. Bike, helmet, communications, and administrative costs include estimates pending final quotes. Last year’s in-kind donations and discounts are historical results, not confirmed contributions for 2026.
The Merry Widows Gift Gathering is hosted by 180 Your Grief, Inc. DBA Widow Strong, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Christmas Gift Grants
Practical help when it matters.
Our Christmas Gift Grants offer direct financial support to local, vetted grieving families within Kate’s Club who are facing need. A gift of $1,000 can fund one family’s grant; gifts of any size help us reach the $10,000 grant goal.
The full grant amount goes to the family.
There’s a place for you
Make hope part of your holidays.
Fund the Gathering
Give toward gifts, family grants, or the coordination that brings this experience to life. Every gift helps move us toward our $54,050 cash goal.
Make a DonationBecome a Sponsor
Bring your business, church, or community alongside grieving families. Contact us about financial sponsorship or donating gifts, goods, and services.
Explore SponsorshipVolunteer With Us
You do not need to be a Kate’s Club member to volunteer. Individuals, churches, businesses, and community teams are welcome to help create a caring holiday experience for the families we serve.
To protect participating children, volunteer sign-up details are shared directly rather than posted publicly. Email outreach@widowstrong.com to learn more.
Request Volunteer Information
When and where is the event?
Saturday, December 12, 2026, at Kate’s Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Contact outreach@widowstrong.com for additional details.
Who is the gathering for?
The Merry Widows Gift Gathering exclusively benefits Kate’s Club members. Family participation is coordinated through Kate’s Club.
Can I volunteer if I am not a Kate’s Club member?
Yes! You do not need to be a Kate’s Club member to volunteer. Individuals and groups are welcome to help. Email outreach@widowstrong.com to request volunteer information.
What does my financial contribution support?
Financial contributions support gifts, direct family grants, event logistics, insurance, and the fundraising, donor coordination, volunteer coordination, and follow-up that make the gathering possible. These efforts also help bring donated goods and services into the event.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes. The Merry Widows Gift Gathering is hosted by 180 Your Grief, Inc. DBA Widow Strong, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our EIN is 47-3200130.
How can I donate gifts or offer services?
Email outreach@widowstrong.com to coordinate current needs before purchasing or delivering items.
Can my workplace match my donation?
Check your employer’s matching-gift program and search for “180 Your Grief, Inc. DBA Widow Strong.” Ask your program administrator about eligibility and submission details.
How do I give through a donor-advised fund?
Search for “180 Your Grief, Inc. DBA Widow Strong,” EIN 47-3200130, through your giving provider. Contact outreach@widowstrong.com if you need assistance.
Health • Hope • Healing
Help a grieving family feel remembered this Christmas and holiday season.
Together, we can offer meaningful gifts, practical support, and the warmth of a caring community.
The Merry Widows Gift Gathering is hosted by 180 Your Grief, Inc. DBA Widow Strong, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.