MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After helping neighbors stay warm with hundreds of free winter coats, local non-profit Barnabas Vision is now turning its focus to Christmas – and they’re asking the community to step in for families who are struggling.

Last month, Barnabas Vision collected and handed out winter coats at no cost to residents who couldn’t afford one, with coats offered on a no-questions-asked basis to both adults and children. Those coats are still being distributed as people in need continue to visit the Barnabas office off MTCS Drive in Murfreesboro.

Now, staff and volunteers are working to make sure those same families – and many others – are not forgotten at Christmas. Carefully vetted local households are matched with volunteers who receive a Christmas wish list for each family member. Maria Coggin highlighted the background and problems that some of the families are facing… Overall, single-parent households now make up the fastest-growing group of families in need, with the demand for support rising steadily in those homes.

Barnabas Vision says this is not just a project for individual families to support. It’s also a strong fit for church small groups, civic organizations, and area businesses that want to make a tangible impact together. From toys and clothing to basic household items, there are many needs to fill. 

Although the gift value per child is capped at $200, volunteers say the real joy comes from personally choosing each present, knowing it will brighten the Christmas of a child who might otherwise receive nothing. And it’s that feeling that may lead some groups to do even more…

A grandmother who is now raising her grandchildren, never thought she would need to ask for Christmas assistance this year, but an unexpected hardship changed everything… A knee surgery and the long recovery that followed caused the grandmother to miss nearly three months of work, which ate through her savings a lot quicker than expected… Maria shared that the grandmother is overwhelmed with gratitude for the help from Barnabas, thankful that her grandchildren will be shielded from the true weight of their family’s financial struggle and allowed to experience the joy of Christmas without the stress so many children in poverty know all too well…

Additional families going through a medical disruption or for those who are facing a more severe hardship, there may be additional ways to help. For those situations, Barnabas can create an additional “extra” wish list with optional items for anyone who feels led to go above and beyond. Those extra items aren’t required, but they offer a way to further share the joy of the season with parents and children who are really struggling. 

The timeline is already tight. The first date for families to meet with Barnabas staff and pick up their holiday presents is around December 18, 2025, with additional gift pickup opportunities extending through December 22, 2025, for families who are still being matched with sponsors.

Barnabas Vision’s Maria Coggin told WGNS News that the number of households signing up for help has outpaced the number of volunteer gift-givers… That means some families are currently on standby, waiting for someone in the community to step up and sponsor them before Christmas arrives.

Local residents, churches, clubs, and businesses can help close that gap. By taking on even one family, volunteers can move a household from the standby list to a guaranteed Christmas, ensuring children wake up to gifts and parents feel the support of their community.

To sign up to help a family that has not yet been “greenlit” for gifts this year, Barnabas Vision is asking volunteers to reach out as soon as possible.

To help:

• Email: send your phone number to David@TheBarnabasVision.org and note that you’d like to help a family in need this Christmas, or
• Call: Barnabas Vision at (615) 556-5134 for more details.
• Visit: TheBarnabasVision.org Today

Organizers say that with enough community support, every family on the standby list can receive a Christmas that reflects hope, dignity, and love.

PODCAST: Be sure to listen to our 11-minute interview by clicking the podcast above this article. Our interview features David and Maria Coggin from Barnabas Vision. The husband and wife sit down with host Scott Walker of WGNS Radio to discuss helping local families that face a financial struggle over the holidays.