The Eveline Rivers Christmas Project works year round in order to bring joy and warmth to economically disadvantaged children during the Christmas and winter season. This organization, which has been operating for twenty years, is unique to Amarillo and the state of Texas. It serves primarily children, adolescents, and teenagers in Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland, River Road, and Highland Park. 

The activities and services provided are as follows:

• Provide warm coats to children in Amarillo and surrounding communities
• Enhance the spirit of giving during the Christmas season by providing toys, books, and school supplies to economically deprived children in the Amarillo area who might otherwise not be able to experience the joy of Christmas
• Provide a clearinghouse for sorting, sizing, and distributing children's clothing to the clothing room
• Provide a training site for students in area schools to practice community service learning and volunteerism

By the end of this twenty-seventh year of service more than 70,000 children will have been given warm winter coats and Christmas packages.

The Christmas project is a yearlong work in progress. Volunteers work at the workshop one night a week during January through October. Coats are distributed beginning in September and continuing into March if needed. In January Eveline begins the process of estimating the needs for the upcoming year. January is the best time to order toys and coats, as the prices are usually the lowest of the season. Donations received during November and December are used to purchase the coats and toys at reduced prices. Eveline spends the months of February through July organizing volunteers into sorting used and new items that are donated. Grant writing also begins in February in order to help cover the $300,000 budget that is raised through donations and grants. Eveline generates much of the funds raised alone as she speaks to many different community groups in the area. In September Eveline and a small group of volunteers begin distributing coats and in October church youth groups are recruited to get the workshop ready for the Christmas season. During November and December hundreds of volunteers work on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings to begin the process of boxing and wrapping over 6,000 gifts for children. On the second Saturday in December volunteers deliver these gifts to the children. The day following delivery day, Eveline organizes a give away, allowing children who may have been left out to come to the workshop and pick out two used toys from those that are left.

In the last five years the Christmas project has provided children with over 40,000 reading books. School supplies are also provided in the Christmas packages for the second semester. No other organization supplies school supplies for the second semester. Children are also provided shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and a toothbrush in addition to toys, as these items cannot be purchased with food stamps. The following lists the numbers of coats and toys distributed in recent years.

Some of the awards and recognition Eveline has received are listed below:

• KVII/United Way Seven Who Care Award - 1986
• Diana Award - Distinguished International Award for Humanitarian Service - 1988
• Paul Harris Fellow - Rotary International - 1989
• Amarillo Globe News Woman of the Year - 1989
• Friend of Education Award - Amarillo Classroom Teachers - 1989
• Spirit of the American Woman - J.C. Penny - 1991
• Southwest Airlines High Flying Hero for Volunteerism - 1993
• Outstanding Volunteer - Texas Department of Human Services - 1995
• Amarillo ISD Volunteer of the Year Award - 1998
• Amarillo Girl Scouts Women of Distinction Award - 1999
• Humanitarian Award - Texas Department of Human Services - 2000
• History Makers of the High Plains - Amarillo Globe News - 2000
• Governor's Award for Volunteerism in the State of Texas - 2000
• Texas Woman to Watch Award - Professional Business Women - 2000
• Mayors Friend of Young Children - City of Amarillo, Mayor - 2000
• Selected as Torch Bearer, Olympic Torch Relay for Inspirational Volunteer - 2002
• Heroes for Children Award - Texas State Board of Education - 2002
• Excellence in Community Service - Daughters of the American Revolution State Award - 2003
• Women Helping Women - Soroptimist International - 2003
• Jefferson National Merit Award - Washington DC by the senators - 2004

In 1997 Eveline wrote requests for grants from twelve foundations, groups, and individuals including, Amarillo Area Foundation, Brumley Foundation, and the Josephine Anderson Trust. No one turned her down. She used this money and a grant from the Amarillo Community Block Grants to purchase the present 24,000 square foot building and renovate it. This building and it's facilities were completely paid for the day it was purchased.  The only costs involved for administration are insurance, utilities and office supplies with all other donated funds used directly to assist children and families. There are no paid staff who work for the organization and all key volunteers have full time jobs away from the Christmas project. It is believed that no other non profit organization in Texas of this size functions with volunteers only and no paid staff.