Holiday baskets are offered seasonally, provided through local community support. Programs vary by location; call for information.

Provides food for the entire family at Christmas time and toys for children age 13 and younger. Only available to Northern Champaign County residents. Must provide proof of income for the last 30 days. Proof of address needed for all members of the household (For example, Medicaid card, report card, daycare letter, doctors bill, etc.)

Registration begins November 3-22, 2025, Mon-Fri 10 am-4 pm, Sat 9 am-12 pm. Please visit office and provided necessary documents.

**Toys for Tots applications are closed for this year 2025**

Four Mile and Pioneer Columbus Recreation Centers will help families sign up for 2024 Toys for Tots during the holiday season. Registration begins Nov. 1, 2024, and goes through Nov 30, 2024. Gift pick-ups are Mon Dec. 16, 2024, from 12 pm- 6 pm; Tue Dec. 17, 2024, from 3 pm-8 pm and Dec. 18, 2024, from 12 pm-6 pm at the center where families register.

For Christmas 2025:

Christmas Dinner boxes are offered to those who have received assistance at the Genoa Food Pantry at least one time during the previous 6 months of the current calendar year. The date of distribution is determined each year, usually set for distribution about a week before Christmas.

For Christmas 2025, pre-register by calling Mary Linden at (402) 750-9249 by November 1, 2025.

Thanksgiving community meal, served Nov 26, 2025, 11:30 am-1 pm. No registration is required; this is a sit-down, in-person meal.

Christmas assistance/toys and ham (in partnership with Toys for Tots). Registration open Oct 20-Nov 21, 2025. Sign up online at sacedarrapids.org, click on Holiday Assistance. Call for (319) 364-9131 for assistance if unable to do this. Households with children ages newborn up to 14 (on 12/25) can sign up for toys and a ham. Households without children eligible for toys can sign up for a ham.

Christmas community meal, served Dec 19, 2025, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. No registration required; this is a sit-down, in-person meal.

Offering a drive-thru Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. Then a food basket is offered after the meal, generally distributed the Friday before the holidays. Please call ahead for information on meals.

Thanksgiving meal - November 21st at 2 pm

Christmas Meal - December 19th at 2 pm

Thanksgiving 2025 meal delivers to those who are in the following zip codes 50317, 50327, 50009. Thanksgiving meal delivery will be from 9:30 am-11am, pick-up will be from 11 am-11:30 am, dine in will be from 11:30 am-1 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

Same for Christmas meal delivery. Christmas reservations will not be taken until after Thanksgiving. After December 1, 2025.

Reservations in English (515) 419-5668, reservations in Spanish (515) 343-6399.

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.

Provides weekly backpacks of non-perishable food items to students during the school year, delivered directly to their homes. During the summer, students are provided monthly boxes of fresh produce and food for meals. Also, provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

Provides assistive technology for blind or visually impaired students to use in their homes.

Makes annual award to Nebraska teacher of the blind and visually impaired.

Offers a scholarship to graduating senior high school students.

Sponsors annual Christmas Party for blind and visually impaired children.

2025

Offering Christmas baskets on December 16th, 2025, at 10 am-11 am.

Visit the website for counties and agencies participating in local holiday assistance programs.

Christmas gifts and food in partnership with county partners.

For Christmas 2025:

As of 11/20/25, no longer accepting applications but community members may still call and see if the office might have extra gift cards to Dollar Fresh and Family Fare grocery stores in Richardson County for food for the families (distributed on December 14th).

[For Christmas 2024:

Holiday Gift and Food Basket applications may be picked up at the SENCA office in Falls City or Humboldt, starting October 28th, 2024. No applications will be accepted after November 15th at 4 pm.

For any questions, call the SENCA office: Humboldt number is (402) 862-2411; Falls City number is (402) 245-5284.]

This annual holiday event is free for children in foster care, adopted from foster care, kinship placement, relative placement and other children living in the foster household.

Registration is required and will close when full. Please visit website for more information regarding dates and registration forms. Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration toy distribution Sunday, December 14th, 2025, from 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm.

Event held at Hawkeye Downs Expo Hall, 4400 Sixth Street SW in Cedar Rapids. Each child must be registered online via the website, keep a lookout for dates. Register early as this event fills up quickly. To donate to the toy drive, the deadline is Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. Drop off location is 6000 7th St SW in Cedar Rapids.

Holiday baskets are offered seasonally, provided through local community support. Programs vary by location; call for information.

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025:

Sign-up for Thanksgiving food box, Christmas food box, and Christmas gifts (for qualifying children) takes place in October only. Starts Oct 1, 2025, and ends Oct 30, 2025.

Applicants must bring documentation identifying each member of the household.

Thanksgiving Food Baskets - Offers Thanksgiving food baskets for residents in area served during visitation in November when picking up food boxes.

Christmas Food Basket - Offers Christmas food baskets for residents in area served during visitation in December when picking up food boxes.

Thrift shop with vouchers provided by most churches, government offices, and community agencies.

School supply distribution.

Santa's workshop provides Christmas presents.

Must register by December 5, 2025, to receive toys.

Offers free clothing, household goods and items, and food to anyone that is looking for some extra help for the holiday. The event will provide a free sit-down meal for the entire family.

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.

Sign-up on the website Oct 4-18 2025

Provides an application for a holiday wish list for children ages 0-17. Community volunteers try to fulfill the wish lists.

2025

Offers a Toys for Tots sign ups for children 0-14 years of age. All adults in the household must have a photo ID and all children must have ID with birth date. Sign ups start mid-October through mid-November. Can call or stop by the office. Toy pick-up in December.