Boulder’s Emergency Family Assistance Association is trying to make sure no child is left without a present this holiday season.

Inside the Diagonal Plaza shopping center at 2850 Iris Ave., Boulder, tables sit filled with toys, games and clothes for babies through teenagers. Appropriately named the Gift Room, its doors have been open this week for clients who have used EFAA services within the past year. Visitors can take home two gifts for each child, along with a few stocking stuffers.

“If you can’t afford gifts for your kids, it’s grim around the holidays,” said Julie Van Domelen, EFAA executive director. “This is not a huge thing, but it’s a really important thing. It’s a stressful time, December, so this can relieve some of that and bring a little joy.”

EFAA is a family resource center offering financial assistance, economic empowerment education and basic needs support to Boulder County residents. The nonprofit also provides housing for homeless families with children.

The Gift Room has been put on by EFAA for seven years. The gifts are grouped by their age demographics, allowing parents to pick items that are appropriate for their kids, whether that’s a puzzle, stuffed animal, knit hat or something entirely different.“We have a model and a belief that participants that use EFAA services should have agency,” Van Domelen said. “This is like you’re just shopping. We try to keep it as empowering as possible.”

The Gift Room opened Tuesday morning to over 150 families stopping by to pick out presents. Its final day open will be Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The Gift Room’s stock comes from community donations, which Van Domelen said were especially needed this week.

She said twice the number of kids are eligible for presents this year than last year, and estimated over 1,000 children will be receiving gifts from EFAA this holiday season.

“Our services have gone through the roof with the number of people needing food and financial assistance because of inflation and the rising cost of housing,” Van Domelen said. “It’s just harder and harder to make ends meet for families in the community, and the things that get cut are things like Christmas gifts.”

EFAA received gift donations from Toys for Tots for the first time this year, which Van Domelen said helped meet the demand. Local nonprofits also stepped up, including the Kiwanis Club of Longmont, whose members donated carved wooden toy cars.

Sue McCullough, director of volunteer services with EFAA, said 48 individual volunteers along with a few corporate teams helped set up and run the Gift Room this year.

“Everybody wants to be a part of helping the community,” McCullough said. “This really attracts people (for whom) this might be their first engagement with EFAA.”

Boulder resident Courtney Lynch spent Tuesday and Friday helping clients navigate the Gift Room. Lynch donated toys for the room last year, but this week was her first opportunity to work inside it as a volunteer.

“It’s such a great way to give back to the community and to see people so appreciative and excited,” Lynch said.