Each year, UREC receives wish lists of individuals and families from First Step, Mercy House and Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley. Their wishes are hung on a tree in UREC for faculty, staff and students to fulfill. 

Here are involvement opportunities for individuals, organizations and departments:

1. Choose one of two ways to Give a Wish:
   
   • Take a Wish from the UREC Holiday Tree: You simply need to:
     • Come to UREC
     • Remove a wish from the tree
     • Purchase the gift
     • Return it unwrapped to UREC with the wish tag on the present (this way we know what family and individual the gift goes to) by Monday, December 9 at 5 p.m.
       
       
   • The Amazon Wish List 
     • Fulfill the "wish" online via the Amazon Wish List by Friday, December 6 and have it shipped directly to UREC. 
       
       
2. Donate Wrapping Supplies: It takes a lot of wrapping paper and tape to wrap over 1000 gifts! 
   
   
3. Donate in Other Ways: Delivering gifts, promoting the event, preparing gift tags, other ways you can think of.
   
   
4. Compete in the Bake-Off: Sign up by Tuesday, December 10 and prepare 25 servings of a homemade baked good to be judged during the Wrapping Party.
   
   
5. Attend the Wrapping Party: Join UREC to help wrap all the donated gifts on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 starting at 1 p.m. in UREC's Sports Forum 2. The event usually runs until 3 p.m. Join us for pizza, hot chocolate, and Bake-Off treats while you wrap!

It has been proven for the past 28 years that the JMU community demonstrates incredible generosity and kindness each year by donating their time and gifts.

We've added an Amazon Wish List component in hopes that it finds those who are not able to visit UREC but still want to be a part of Warm a Winter Wish. Whether you are a member of the JMU family or not, we appreciate your support this holiday season! Seeing the gym lined with wrapped gifts is a moving demonstration of the difference we can make when we all do a small part.

Our goals include extending the UREC mission to our community with an emphasis on creating healthy lifestyles, recognizing that gifts purchased connect to a community need and connecting community organizations to students, faculty and staff and vice versa.

Questions? Contact UREC's Assistant Director for Member Services.

Event Photos: 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012 / 2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008 / 2007