Grant a NYC Kid's Winter Wish for $40 or Less

New York Cares runs its 36th annual Winter Wishes program in partnership with nonprofits and schools across NYC, aiming to grant 26,000 wishes this year for children and teens from low-income families. Whether you join on your own or with friends, you receive emailed digital letters listing a child or teen's requested gift and the partner agency's delivery address. Individual volunteers can register for one to 300 wishes, and group thank-you letters arrive by late January.

Guidelines ask wish granters to spend up to $40 per letter on the gift, with postage covered separately. Do your best to buy the requested gift, and contact the agency listed on your letter about any substitutions. Manhattan shops such as Books of Wonder or Greenwich Letterpress work well for books, stationery, or a festive envelope when sending a gift card. Wrap every present, and write the child's name and letter ID or tracking code on the outside.

Matching begins in early November. Leave time to shop, wrap and send your gift by December 4. Each digital letter lists your assigned nonprofit or school address plus a phone number for clothing, shoe size, or delivery date questions. You can deliver packages in person, mail them, or order online wrapped with your return address, and send your wrapped gift to your assigned partner agency by December 4, 2026 before clicking Fulfill Wish on your dashboard.