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.

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.

Solicits monetary donations to purchase specifically requested toys for less fortunate children in Lincoln, Nebraska, ages 1-13 for Christmas.

Works with social service agencies in Lincoln, Nebraska to qualify families.

The National Guard provides volunteers to help sort applications and distribute toys.

Thanksgiving program provides a food box.

For Thanksgiving 2025, in-person sign-ups are by appointment only. No more requests will be received after October 25.

Applicants must bring photo ID for all adults in the household, proof of birth date for each child, proof of address (current utility bill, mail, etc), proof of all household income. Applicants must apply at one agency only. (Salvation Army compares applicant lists with other agencies.)

For Christmas 2025, the Christmas program offers food boxes for families and/or toys for children; programs are for children ages 0-15 and seniors age 65+.

Beginning Nov 1st through Nov 20th or until capacity is reached. Register at https://saangeltree.org or call (402) 379-4663 for an appointment. If not qualified for Angel Tree, call for information about receiving a Christmas food box.

**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.

The mission of the program is to collect and distribute new unwrapped toys as Christmas gifts to children ages 0-14.

Toy application information for 2025:

10/1/25: Application open date.

11/14/25: Application close date.

10/01/25: Application response start date.

11/14/25: Application response end date.

Toy Distribution:

Starts 11/20/2025, ends 12/11/2025. Approved applicants will be notified of specific distribution dates and locations.

Holiday programs.

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

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.

Provides curbside distribution of holiday provisions for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

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.

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.

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.

2025 Holiday assistance includes Adopt A Child/Family and Christmas Baskets. Baskets are distributed at the Adair County Matura Outreach Center. Gifts are for children through 10 years old.

CHRISTMAS BASKETS: To sign up, call (dates to be determined). Registrants will be notified when their basket is available.

ADOPT A CHILD/FAMILY: Taking applications (dates to be determined). Please call the Adair County office at (641) 743-2424.

Applications for the 2025 Christmas season (Toy Shop and Angel Tree) begins Nov 3.

2025 Toy Shop sign-up:

- Nov 3, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm

- Nov 4, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm

- Nov 5, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm

- Nov 6, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm

- Nov 7, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm

Angel tree applications close Dec 5, 2025, or until all spots are full.

Provides a Toys for Tots sign up during the holiday season. The program screens each applicant and checks with other organizations in the community to maximize the number of families helped during the holiday season and reduce the number of duplications.

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.

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.

Thanksgiving 2025: Dinner served 5:30 pm-6:30 pm.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025: Lunch served 11:30 am-12:30 pm, dinner served 5:30 pm-6:30 pm.

2025

Provides Christmas Dinner 2025 on Sunday December 21, 2025. Dinner go go boxes will be available for walk-up pick up at the front door from 12 pm-1:30 pm , follow the signs for vehicle pick at the side door on Dorgan Place. Delivery service will start at 11 am.

Please call Brenda at (563) 583-1779, Mon-Thu from 7 am-3:30 pm to order a home delivered meal. Deadline to order is Wednesday December 17, 2025.

Holiday food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas Toy Shopping.

For Thanksgiving & Christmas 2025:

The 2025 Thanksgiving Food Basket Giveaway is held at the PCM Help Center (6800 P Street, Lincoln) on Saturday, 11/22/25. Giving away 500 Thanksgiving meal baskets to those in need, beginning at 9 am until supplies run out.

Free Thanksgiving meal Thanksgiving Day 2025 at People's City Mission (110 Q Street, Lincoln). Serving a full Thanksgiving meal to not only all of the homeless in Lincoln, but to anyone who would otherwise be alone on Thanksgiving and could use a meal. Serving at 11 am-2 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Expecting to serve around 700 meals.

Santa's Workshop Christmas Toy Giveaway for families in need will be held at the People's City Mission Help Center (6800 P Street, Lincoln) on Saturday, 12/13/25 from 10 am-12 pm. Anticipating to help over 5,000 people, including shelter guests and low-income families who shop at the Help Center. Shoppers will need to have a Clarity card to participate. Clarity cards can be obtained at the Help Center each Tuesday from 9-11 am. No appointment necessary.

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

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.

Provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families.

For Christmas 2025:

In-person applications for Angel Tree program is available on the following dates in 2025:

- Oct 27-29

- Nov 4

- Nov 11

- Nov 18

- Nov 25

Hours for all dates are 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm. Address is 422 Main Street, Belvidere IL 61008.

Applications also accepted online. Website: www.saangeltree.org

For 2025:

Community dinner on Thanksgiving Day, 12 pm-3 pm. Call to request delivery.

Sign up for Christmas food boxes and toys for children before December 1, 2025. Visit the Salvation Army at 120 South 7th Street. Applicants must bring driver's license and proof of children in their home (insurance cards, Medicaid Cards, school IDs).

Christmas food baskets/toys handed out on December 20, 2025, to those that registered.

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.