This Holiday Season, Let's Come Together to Help Women and Children in Our Community!

November 19, 2025

One of our favorite holiday traditions at IWF NorCal is our holiday gift drive, reaching out as a community to support women and children who need a helping hand. This year, 13 wonderful community organizations were nominated by 15 members (see list here) and La Casa de Las Madres, nominated by Elizabeth Cooper, was selected to be our recipient.

La Casa supports domestic violence survivors across our community. By a fortuitous coincidence, we have an informational event planned on December 2nd, for an opportunity to hear firsthand how La Casa is helping to shape a safer, more equitable future for women and families in San Francisco, and beyond. Please register here if you can join us.

The Community Committee has worked with La Casa and we have several ways in which you can join us in supporting their important work this holiday season: 

1. DONATE: Make a tax-deductible donation directly to La Casa using this link, from November 19th through December 31st. Our goal is to collectively raise $2,500 to make a critical difference in the lives of women, teens, and children! If you donate to La Casa via a donor advised fund, please notify the IWF NorCal office so that we can include your amount in our tally towards our goal. 

2. BUILD HOLIDAY GIFT BAGS: Help sprinkle fairy dust with special holiday gift packages that will support women survivors. One holiday gift bag includes pajamas, slippers, a Burt's Bees beauty travel set, and gift wrapping, which costs around $75. You may purchase items here to build a gift bag or any individual items you wish to contribute. Our goal is to build 50 gift bags!

The items may be brought to the December 2nd event, the December 4th holiday party, or shipped directly to the organization. If shipping, please address to La Casa de Las Madres, c/o Angie Aguirre, 1269 Howard Street, San Francisco 94103. Please specify delivery for Monday - Friday between 9 am and 5 pm only. Please also include a note that the gift is from an IWF member.      

3. HOLIDAY SOCK DRIVE: Bring a pair of new warm fuzzy socks to the December 4th holiday party. The socks will be provided to domestic abuse survivors during the holidays. Our goal is to collect 100 pairs of socks! *Update* We exceeded this goal with over 150 pairs of socks collected!

4. HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE: Purchase a children's book to donate at the December 8th holiday book review or bring a gently used book to the December 4th holiday party. Kids books and pre-teen/teen books would be best for the children of the families that La Casa helps. Our goal is to collect 20 books!

5. *New! Added 12/5* COMMUNITY THRIFT STORE DONATIONS: Bring your gently used clothing, jewelry, houseware, etc. (see list of welcome items) to the Community Thrift Store at 623 Valencia St., San Francisco, and let them know that the donation is for Charity Partner La Casa de Las Madres. When your items are sold, La Casa will receive the proceeds. No goal, just another easy and wonderful way we can contribute. 

We hope you will embrace IWF NorCal’s key tenet of COMMUNITY to help make a difference for local women and children. Together, we can keep spirits bright and help provide a meaningful holiday experience for all the survivors La Casa supports this holiday season. Thank you!

2025 Holiday Gift Drive

Who? IWF NorCal is partnering with La Casa de Las Madres this year.

How? There are four ways in which you can support La Casa:

1. Donate here.

2. Build holiday gift bags; purchase items here.

3. Participate in a holiday sock drive at the December 4th Holiday Party.

4. Participate in a holiday book drive at the December 8th Holiday Book Review (books will also be accepted at the December 4th Holiday Party).

When? Wednesday, November 19th - Wednesday, December 31st.

Goal? 

1. Raise $2,500 through cash contributions.

2. Build 50 holiday gift bags.

3. Collect 100 pairs of socks.

4. Collect 20 children's books.