Our History

Presents for a Purpose was started by Juan and Pia Calle in 2016. That first year, they were able to help two families in need. The experience was so eye-opening that the following year they invited friends and family to join in. With their help, the program grew—supporting eight families in 2017, twenty in 2018, and another twenty in 2019.

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, they weren’t sure what the future of the program would look like. Gone were the large shopping trips together, and with the financial uncertainty of the time, expectations were modest. But the community came through—67 families and more than 210 children received gifts and groceries that year.

In 2021, Presents for a Purpose moved from the Calle family’s home into a warehouse space and expanded again, supporting 145 families and 380 children.

To date, over 500 families and 1,450 children have been helped thanks to the incredible generosity of donors, volunteers, and partners. The initiative now reaches beyond Atlanta, making an impact in Athens and surrounding communities as well.