Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes and Christmas gift distribution for families in the Tri-City area, all on a registered basis.

Please note: To better process information in a timely manner, TSA asks that registrants bring all of the required documents with them at the time of registration. If residents do not have all the information requested, TSA will be unable to process their request. Also, please leave children at home with an adult due to the lengthy registration process.

For Thanksgiving 2025:

A Thanksgiving Meal is offered. This can be picked up in the month of December with the monthly food pantry pick-up.

For Christmas 2025:

Offers the Operation Santa program, where qualifying parents can pick out gifts for their children (ages 0-18) at a pop-up shop in December (date to be determined; by appointment only).

Visit the office and fill out an application before the deadline (Nov 22, 2025); parents will then be pre-approved for a time to come and select gifts for their children. Gift options include new and gently used clothing, games, puzzles, etc. Parents also receive a $50 gift card and $50 voucher for each child.

Salvation Army Angel Tree Sign-ups will be online, to register, visit the website www.saangeltree.org. Registration for toys begins October 1, 2025 and will end November 15, 2025. If issues occur with the website or if individual doesn't have internet, call for further assistance. Can only sign children up that are ages 12 and under. (Salvation Army Angel Tree Program is a Toys for Tots program).

2025 - Offers a free Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. Served from 11 am-1:30 pm. To reserve for dine in call before December 19th, 2025.

For Pick up, we will need your name, time you will pick up the meal/s and the number of meals by December 19th, 2025. Email or call between Tue-Fri 9 am-12 pm.

For the 2025 holidays:

Food baskets provided in December (delivered Sat, Dec 20, 2025). Call Sat, November 8, 2025, 9 am-2 pm to register. Call on this date only.

Thanksgiving Assistance 2025 - Meal vouchers will be given for Thanksgiving 2025. Must visit in person for services, first come first serve basis. Decatur County may accept up to 60 individuals. Wayne County may accept up to 25 individuals.

** No update for Christmas 2025 as of yet **

CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE - Dates to be determined - Call agency for more details Decatur County - No program for Christmas 2024. Clarke County - No program for Christmas 2024 Lucas County - No program for Christmas 2024. Monroe County - No program for Christmas 2024. Wayne County - No program for Christmas 2024.

Offers holiday food boxes on Thanksgiving and Christmas to those in need.

Provides canned goods, personal items, and occasional fresh produce/dairy/meat. It is recommended that clients bring their own bag.

Provides Thanksgiving meal box to registered clients during the month before Thanksgiving (a frozen turkey, a bag of potatoes, and food to prepare some of the fixings and sides).

2025

Offers holiday assistance for parents who are unemployed or underemployed. Gift and food distribution will take place at the Midwest Food Bank, 2031 Warehouse Road, Normal (off of Northtown Road, north of I-55 in Normal).

Registration is online. Starting in mid-October, visit the website or Facebook page to access the form. the form swill jol longer be available one tall spots are filled.

Distribution, Dec 13, 2025 from 8 am-11 am. This will be a drive-in, drive-out event and packages will be loaded in vehicles. Children do not need to be present to receive a gift.

Collects toys and distributes them to needy families. Children ages 0-14 are eligible.

2025 Application dates:

Toy application information for 2025:

10/1/25: Application open date.

12/12/25: Application close date.

12/01/25: Application response start date.

12/22/25: Application response end date.

Toy Distribution:

Starts 12/01/2025, ends 12/23/2025. Approved applicants will be notified of specific distribution dates and locations.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025:

- The pantry will be stocked with holiday items for the 2025 holiday season, Mon-Fri 9 am-11 am.

- On Thanksgiving Morning, there will be an in-house Thanksgiving Meal at the Parish Center from 9 am to 11 am. A traditional Thanksgiving Meal will be served.

- There will be an in-house Christmas ham dinner on the Friday before Christmas in the Parish Center from 9 am to 11 am.

Offers a Christmas sit down dinner for anyone in need at the church on December 25, 2025, from 12 pm-2 pm or meal delivery from 11 am-1:30 pm. Individuals and families must call and live the area of West of Edgewood Road, north of Williams Boulevard, east of Linn-Benton County line and south of F Avenue for delivery.

Delivered meals will not be left if no one answers the door.

Provides a meal box which includes a turkey and all the fixings. Each box feeds a family of 4.

For Christmas 2025:

Angel Tree - Families can register online to receive toys for children up to age 18. Registration open as of Oct 7, 2025, and closes Dec 8, 2025. Website: www.saangeltree.org

Registration for Christmas Distribution begins the first Monday of October and ends on the 2nd Monday in December each year. Go to SAAngelTree.org

Volunteers, community groups and local businesses donate materials, food, toys and skills for seasonal holiday projects for low-income families. Provides food packages and allowances to purchase clothes, shoes, coats, and household goods.

Projects vary annually and by county office. Community members may contact their county BVCA office for details about local holiday programs.

Seasonal assistance includes gifts for children and food boxes for families or individuals.

For Christmas 2025, in-person applications are Oct 13 and 14 or November 12 and 13, by appointment only.

Online applications open Oct 13 and closes Nov 13. Website is www.saangeltree.org

Contact Salvation Army for any holiday assistance programs provided after October.

Holiday Adoption program.

For Christmas 2025, the deadline to apply for Shelby County is December 1st.

For Monona County, deadline is December 5, 2025, and must be a client receiving services from LIHEAP. Call to make appointment for LIHEAP and then receive application for Holiday Adoption.

This program is especially designed to help families who are facing financial hardships and are unable to afford a Christmas dinner or new toys and warm clothing for their children. The Holiday Adoption Program hopes to address the needs of low-income children and families during the holidays and winter season.

Providing a Toys for Tots 2025 signup/distribution site and food baskets. Visit website for more information on dates and times to register.

Provides holiday meals.

Easter Provides a ham. Distribution day varies, call to confirm.

Thanksgiving provides turkeys or ham for Thanksgiving as part of regular food distribution the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Christmas Provides ham as part of regular food distribution the Saturday before Christmas.

Only open to Food Pantry guests that received services between Jan-Oct 2025!

*12/19/25 Friday ONLY from 9 am-11 am Free Christmas gifts on a first come, first served bases.

Each child will receive a minimum of 1 toy and stocking stuffer. Children must be 18 or younger to participate. Children do not need to be present while registering or during pick up. Toys are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each child may only receive toys once. This is a Toys for Tots event.

Pre-registration is required. Registrants must come into the Bidwell Pantry to sign up for the Holiday Toy Pantry. Registration is between 10 am-4 pm Monday through Friday from November 1, 2025 through November 30, 2025 OR until the event is full.