Secret Santa for neighbors

Start small and invite openly

Put a note in the street group chat, the HOA newsletter or a flyer at the mailboxes. Say who it is for (the whole street, one cul de sac, one building), the budget and the sign up deadline. A group of 10 to 25 households is a good size. Hollyhush is free up to 50 people.

Make it clear that one adult per household joins, or that each adult may join, so the numbers stay even.

Address and privacy safety

• Neighbors usually know each other's address already, but not each other's phone number. The link needs only a first name, so nobody has to share more.
• Do not post a list of who joined in a public group, and never post the matches.
• Skip the anonymous chat if you are not sure everyone knows each other well. Use a paper wishlist instead.
• Use a drop off spot rather than passing a gift to someone's door in secret. See the next section.

A first name is enough to join. People only see their own match, and groups delete 60 days after the swap date.

Set a drop off day

The easiest approach is a single drop off window, such as a Saturday from 10 AM to noon, at a clubhouse, a garage or the organizer's porch with a table. Each gift is labeled with the receiver's first name and the house number. Neighbors pick up their gift later the same day.

That keeps it anonymous without anyone walking up to a stranger's door, and it works for people who are not home.

Budget norms

Most neighborhoods pick $10 to $20. Keep it low if households vary a lot. Local treats, a plant cutting, a mug, a jar of jam or a seasonal item are standard. Avoid alcohol unless everyone agrees.

If there are kids on the street, run a separate kids exchange with a $5 to $10 cap and parents buying.

Start a neighborhood group in 10 seconds. Free, no app, no email. Create your group, free

The HOA and the rules

If you run it through an HOA, make participation voluntary and keep it separate from fees or dues. Do not require anyone to join, and avoid a public sign up sheet in a shared space. A short written note is better than a verbal announcement.

An alternative to the swap date drop off is a short block party with cookies and cocoa, and a reveal at the end. See Secret Santa reveal party plan and cookie exchange rules.

What if someone is away?

Ask people to say early if they will be traveling. A gift can wait on a porch table or be passed to a trusted neighbor. If someone drops out after names are out, the organizer can ask a volunteer to cover the gift. For more help, see Secret Santa problems and fixes and the Secret Santa generator.