Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadine King.
Hi Nadine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Christmas Come True is a nonprofit organization I founded more than 16 years ago, inspired and guided by God. What began in my guest bedroom as a step of faith has grown into a lifelong calling to serve families who struggle not only to celebrate Christmas but to meet their most pressing needs while dealing with their daily challenges.
The mission of Christmas Come True is to support families in need throughout Flagler County during the Christmas season and throughout the year. With prayer, love, and a commitment to personalization, the organization works year-round to prepare for December, when volunteers, donors, and community partners come together to reflect God’s love by making Christmas possible for hundreds of children and their families.
What makes Christmas Come True unique is its commitment to treating every family with care and respect. Each parent/ grandparent is personally interviewed to understand what their situation is and what their needs are for each child. Each family served receives a personalized Christmas dinner, each child receives new clothing, gifts, bikes, and special needs items when needed, and a stuffed Christmas stocking. The goal is not just to give—but to restore a sense of joy, warmth, and belonging.
For many families in Flagler County, the Christmas season can bring added stress instead of celebration. Financial hardship, medical hardships, unexpected life events, and ongoing challenges can make it difficult to provide a Christmas meal, gifts, or even basic necessities. Christmas Come True exists to change that story. We bring the community together to ensure that local families experience dignity, joy, and hope during Christmas.
There are many impactful ways the community supports Christmas Come True. One of the ways businesses can help is through the Christmas Jars campaign. These jars are placed in local businesses throughout Flagler County. These simple jars invite customers to drop in spare change, transforming small, everyday gestures into something extraordinary. We have raised several thousand dollars to help pay for the dinners and gifts for the children. Another way businesses can contribute is by displaying our Christmas Wish Trees, Adopt a Family or families for gifts and dinners, or sponsoring a fundraising event. It takes many events and the generosity of people to give over 150 families a dinner, clothes, toys, gifts, bikes, beds and bedding, and so many more items that are needed for each child. We try to provide each child with new socks, underwear, pj’s and outfit, and outerwear. If they need a bed or bedding, we try very hard to give them those very basic needs as well. We ask the parents to give us several suggestions for toys, books, and special gifts the child would love to have. Each child receives a Christmas stocking stuffed with personal hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, toothpaste & brushes, cream, and any age-appropriate gifts we can give to ease that expense for the parent.
This past year, we served 149 families with over 400 children. We wanted to help so many more, but time and finances limited us. Local businesses, restaurants, musicians, civic groups, and volunteers are at the heart of Christmas Come True’s success. From hosting donation jars, Christmas Wish Trees, and fundraising events to donating space, time, and talent, these partnerships allow the organization to extend our reach and deepen our impact. We depend solely on businesses and personal donations to fund our efforts.
At present, we have a shop,” Begin Again Home Goods, where we sell gently used home goods, furniture, and locally made items on consignment. Through this shop, we can help families that are starting over, the majority of home goods and furniture needed to make a house a home. We are focused on making sure the child has a good bed and bedding needed for healthy sleep.
A Glimpse of what we believe is the future of Christmas Come True:
At Christmas Come True, our personal interviews give us a close-up look at the deeper needs that families face year-round. For many, the challenges don’t end when the decorations come down. That is where the vision of Innovative Community Resource Solutions becomes so powerful.
Imagine a single parent who comes to Christmas Come True needing help to provide a holiday meal and gifts for their children. Through ICRS, that same family could be connected not only to Christmas support, but also to resources that help stabilize their future—access to food nutrition education, vertical gardening for subsistence gardening assistance, financial literacy and budgeting workshops, career exploration and development, event space/ distribution, our Begin Again Home Goods Resale Shop, Farmers Market space, a sewing corner for creativity and recycling, 3- D printing education and product development and production, and so many more programs. Instead of navigating these challenges alone, families would have coordinated support walking alongside them
Putting all of these programs in place would mean more than meeting immediate needs; it would mean breaking cycles of hardship. It would allow Christmas Come True to serve as a bridge, helping families move from crisis to stability, from uncertainty to confidence, and from simply getting through the season to building a stronger tomorrow through entrepreneurship and education.
ICRS represents hope beyond a single moment. It reflects a future where families are supported not just at Christmas, but throughout the year—empowered, encouraged, and reminded that their community believes in them.
This is what I envision the future of Christmas Come True to encompass.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The primary challenges facing our organization are limited financial resources and community awareness. To meet growing demand, we are seeking funding to acquire a facility capable of housing Christmas Come True, Begin Again Home Goods, and Innovative Community Resource Solutions, allowing for expanded and coordinated services.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Christmas Come True has been my passion for the past 16 years. I retired from both a career in Retail and Restaurant businesses.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I live in a surrounding County. I frequent Jacksonville for its many restaurants, stores, and the amazing zoo. I love exploring the area.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Christmascometrue.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasComeTrue/
