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For Thanksgiving/Christmas 2025:

Holiday Food provides special meals during the holiday season.

Holiday Families provides support to families during the holidays, in partnership with community organizations.

Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets are offered through some Mid-Sioux Opportunity outreach offices, as well as Christmas gift distribution programs. Dates and times vary by location. Families are encouraged to contact their local office for details.

For Christmas 2025:

Project Santa’s Toy and Joy Shop Program empowers low-income parents to have gifts for their children on Christmas or their holiday of choice. Provides 3-5 new toys for each child, books, school supplies, and coloring books. Serves children ages 0-12.

For Christmas 2025:

To sign up for Project Santa, beginning December 1st through December 23rd, community members can visit the Timberlake Outreach Center or Council Bluffs Outreach Center (on the days they are open) and sign up their children (aged newborn to 12) to receive new toys for Christmas. This should be done during visitors' once-a-month shopping time. Please note that each child can only be signed up for this program once.

To sign children up for Christmas gifts, applicants must bring:

- A current piece of mail

- Social Security cards for each child (ages newborn to 12 years old) to sign up to receive gifts

- A document verifying the children’s ages (such as a birth certificate or Medicaid card)

To Shop for Toys: After sign-up, applicants will be given a confirmation sheet with an appointment day and time to come and shop for toys for the children who were signed up. Applicants will need to bring that confirmation sheet with them when shopping for toys.

The Toy N Joy shop is located on the main campus by the airport in Omaha, and will be open (by appointment only) from 10 am-6 pm on December 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, and 23rd. Parents cannot bring children with them to the Toy N Joy Shop.

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

Matches low-income families with organizations that want to adopt a family for Christmas. Families provide a list of the wants/needs of the children. Registration runs November 3-7, 2025, from 10 am-4 pm and on November 8, 2025, from 10 am-2 pm.

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

Holiday programs.

Holiday assistance programs vary by location and by funding available. Clients are encouraged to call their local office for details.

Offers a Toys for Tots sign up through the Church. Child must be 14 years old or under to participate. Can only sign up once for Toys for Tots. Sign up begins October 01, 2025, and stops December 5, 2025. Toy distribution dates begin on November 14, 2025, and ends December 21, 2025.

Approved applicants can pick up toys at the following location - Franklin Event Center/also known as Horizon School...4801 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines, 50310

You Must be Registered to pick up toys

Christmas Food Voucher and a toy for children 17 or under.

For Christmas 2025, applicants are encouraged to call their local Salvation Army office for details or signup oline at saangeltree.org.

2025 New Visions Holiday Celebration:

Community Christmas Family Sign-Up is open as of Oct 15, 2025. Families can receive Christmas gifts, books, games, clothing, and food for the holidays.

Community Christmas will be held on Sat, Dec 13 (families will sign up for a specific time when registering) at the Iowa West Sports Plex in Council Bluffs. (3260 Mid America Dr, Council Bluffs, IA 51501)

Applicants may email [email protected] or visit the website to get signed up: https://form.jotform.com/252786640707162

2026 YouthHope Holiday Food Baskets

Holiday Food Basket Application begin October 1, 2026. Holiday baskets include holiday meal food items and a grocery gift certificate. Baskets are limited. Clients who apply for a food basket from another agency are not eligible. First-come, first-served. Basket recipients will receive a basket pick-up card at the time of application with details.

Application must be completed in-person during Food Pantry hours: Monday & Friday 9 am-12 pm. Families may select either Thanksgiving OR Christmas while supplies last. Please one ONE basket per family per year.

THANKSGIVING BASKET DISTRIBUTION: Thursday, November 19, 2026 (9 am-12 pm)

CHRISTMAS BASKET DISTRIBUTION: Thursday, December 17, 2026 (9 am-12 pm)

Food and gifts for families in need.  

For Christmas 2025:

Applications accepted November 3-November 21, 2025. Call to register: (712) 328-8122, Mon-Fri 9 am-11 am and 1 pm-3 pm.

Eligibility Requirements: Picture ID; must be a resident of Southwest Iowa; applicants may apply at one agency only. Agencies coordinate lists of applicants to ensure no duplication.

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.

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

Holiday assistance for 2025 includes Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts (for children up to age 18). Baskets are distributed via the MATURA Adams County Outreach Center.

THANKSGIVING BASKETS: Complete an application between (dates to be determined).

CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Applications are taken from (dates to be determined).

Christmas food baskets, vouchers, and gifts for children.

For Christmas 2025:

Provides a child’s toy and clothing of choice, hats and gloves and coat (if needed), food for the family, and other items.

As of Oct 17, 2025, individual applicants and/or those wishing to inquire on behalf of an individual/family who may benefit from the program may send a message through the Caring Cupboard's Facebook page or call and leave a message at (308) 928-2264.

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.

For Christmas 2025:

Families who live in Sarpy County with children (ages 0 to 14) who meet low-income guidelines can apply for assistance with receiving new toys for their children.

Applications will be accepted at the three locations listed below. If unable to visit those locations, applicants may contact Tandra at (402) 593-2347 to schedule an appointment for their application.

No walk-ins are permitted; appointments are required throughout November (from Tuesday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm). The address for completing an application will be provided when making an appointment.

2025 Registration Locations:

- First Baptist Church (Do not call church for information) - 112 East 23rd Avenue, Bellevue. Thu, Nov 6, from 12 pm-6 pm.

- St. Columbkille Church (Do not call church for information) - Sacred Heart Center, 542 North Jefferson Street, Papillion. Tue, Nov 4, from 9 am-3 pm.

- Bellevue Christian Center (Do not call church for information) - 1400 Harvell Drive, Bellevue. Sat, Nov 1, from 9 am-1 pm.

Documentation required:

- Photo ID for head of household (person applying).

- Proof of address in Sarpy County, dated within the last 30 days; current utility bill preferred (OPPD, MUD, Black Hills Energy), or letter from Nebraska DHHS.

- Proof of ages of children (must have at least 1 child age 14 or under living in the household): children’s birth certificates, or current Medicaid card (with birth date), or school enrollment forms.

- Proof of total household income: pay stubs for last 30 days, or Social Security 2025 Benefits Letter, or unemployment letter, or Nebraska DHHS Economic Assistance/Medicaid eligibility letter.

Applicants will know on registration day if they are approved.

For questions, call Amanda at (402) 682-6602.

2025

Offers gifts and food to those in need for the Christmas 2025 holiday. Reach out to the local County Outreach Office for more information regarding holiday help in the area.

Holiday baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas

For eligible families, a holiday food basket will be prepared upon request. Visit in person to register for a food basket.

Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets (Signup Dates are November 1st through November 27th, 2025)

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.

Toys for Tots holiday program, providing gifts for children.

For Christmas 2025:
The Toys for Tots Application is open from October 1-November 17, 2025.

Apply online. You will receive a letter/voucher if you are accepted into the program.

Heartland United Way works in partnership with the US Marine Corp each year to offer the Toys for Tots program. Children must be age 12 or younger and reside in the household.

Offers free Christmas trees and decorations. Call for information.

For Thanksgiving/Christmas 2025:

Holiday Food provides special meals during the holiday season.

Holiday Families provides support to families during the holidays, in partnership with community organizations.

Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets are offered through some Mid-Sioux Opportunity outreach offices, as well as Christmas gift distribution programs. Dates and times vary by location. Families are encouraged to contact their local office for details.

Offers Toys for Tots sign-ups for children ages 14 and under. Sign-ups are currently open and close on December 1st. Call to apply for the program and use extension 0.