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Holiday Adoption program.  Christmas 2026 information TBD.

[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.]

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.

Offers new gifts to children ages newborn to 12 years old just in time for the holidays every year. When funds allow, gift cards will be given to each family to purchase food for a holiday meal, or we provide food items such as a ham or turkey and canned goods. Apply using the QR code on our Facebook page or by visiting the website from Oct 15 to Dec 10, 2025.

Food for emergencies. Donations accepted from area churches, groups, and schools.

Free food pantry outside front door of Hickman Presbyterian Church also available at 300 East 3rd Street in Hickman.

Holiday baskets for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas, people who use the pantry during the year are given holiday baskets. Call or visit the pantry for information about basket distribution dates and times.

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. 

Holiday meals 2025 for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter are served at Bethel Mission's Hope Cafe (1310 6th Avenue).

Thanksgiving meals served at Hope Cafe on Thursday, November 27, 2025, from 12 pm-1 pm (no reservation required to eat at Hope Cafe). Thanksgiving orders for in-home meal delivery are from Nov 3rd - Nov 19th, 2025 at 4:30 pm or until capacity is reached. Call (515) 265-4277 or sign up at www.hopeiowa.org. Thanksgiving delivery to: Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Booneville, Carlisle, Cumming, Clive, Dallas Center, Des Moines, Granger, Grimes, Hartford, Indianola, Johnston, Martinsdale, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Prole, Urbandale, Van Meter, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights.

Christmas meal 2025 home delivery can be reserved by calling (515) 265-4277 or online at hopiowa.org. Orders will be taken form Dec 1st ,2025 - Dec 17th, 2025 at 4 pm or until full. Christmas meals are delivered to Altoona, Clive, Des Moines, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.

Christmas can be enjoyed at Hope Cafe on Christmas day Thursday, Dec 25, 2025 from 12 pm-1 pm.

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. 

Thanksgiving 2025

Offering a thanksgiving community meal on Thanksgiving Day 11 am-1 pm.

Christmas 2025 

Offering Christmas assistance through the angel tree program, for registering in person must visit main office on November 4th, 5th, and 6th. May register online on November 13th. 

To register, you will need to bring: photo I.D. and social security card for head of household, and social security card for household members ages 13 and older, birth certificates for each child ages 0-12; current piece of mail from the last 30 days proving they live in Jasper County and a working phone number. Christmas food and toy distribution are for families with children from newborn to 12 years old

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

For Christmas 2025:  INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE YET

-- Nemaha County – 12/20/24 11 am-4 pm. Gift card pick up at the Auburn Christian Church.

-- Johnson County - 12/16/2024. All day pickup (8 am-4 pm) of gift cards in Tecumseh office.

-- Pawnee County - 12/18/2024 9AM – 11:30 am and 1 pm-3:30 pm. Pick up of food and gift cards in the Community Room at the Village Apartments.

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

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).

Provides a Thanksgiving, and Christmas meal for those in need. Thanksgiving Meals is served, Nov. 27, 2025, from 11:30 am-1 pm. No need to register, just come for the in person meal.

Christmas Meal served Dec. 22, 2025, from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. No need to register, just come for the in person meal.

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

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.

2026 New Visions Holiday Celebration:

- Community Christmas Family Sign-Up will open October 14th, 2026. Families may be eligible to receive gifts for children in their care, books, games and food for the holidays.

- Community Wide Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2026 (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).

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.

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. 

For Christmas 2026:

Provides wrapped gifts and other treats and goodies for children ages 3-12 residing in the Quad Cities area.

Registration begins Nov 2026 (11:30 am-12:30 pm); visit the website for additional details.

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.

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

Christmas gifts to children whose parents are incarcerated. Camping and Sports Camps offered to children whose parents are incarcerated.

The program is active for Christmas 2025; the parent(s) in prison must register through their prison chaplain.

**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.