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

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

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 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.

Provides 2 to 3 toys for children ages 0-17. To be eligible for registration, a form of ID for every child and photo ID for the parent or legal guardian is required. The following ID's are accepted: Social Security Card preferred, birth certificate, passports, Medicaid or insurance cards, school ID cards, or state issued ID. Parent or legal guardian must be present to register children to receive gifts.

For Christmas 2025:

Registration opens Nov 1, 2025.

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:

Heart of Christmas is Sat, Dec 6th, from 10 am-11 am, held at the Faith Church in Rock Valley, IA. Provides a Christmas store for children ages 3-11, and parents pay $5 per child to choose and wrap a gift. The store closes at 10:45 am, so parents must arrive before that time.

This also qualifies parents to receive a holiday meal kit. Children enter the Christmas Carnival area with a variety of games and decorate Christmas cookies. There is an interactive retelling of the Christmas story.

Parents must register by Nov 21. Register online at www.loveincsiouxcounty.org, our facebook page, or call (712) 476-5990. No registration needed for Christmas Carnival. (All children must be accompanied by a parent at the event.)

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

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. 

2025 registration ended 11/14/2025.

Partners with Toys For Tots and Midwest Food Bank to provide toys and a Christmas food box for families/individuals in need.

Thanksgiving sign-up starts in Oct - early Nov (once dates are determined). Distribution: Date and time to be determined at the American Legion.

Christmas sign-up is in Oct - early Nov (once dates are determined) (partnering with CRISP - call CRISP 515-462-9400. Households without children can apply through MATURA until (date to be determined). Distribution Date to be determined.

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.

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.

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.]

Holiday food boxes and adopt a family gift program are offered each year, with sign-up beginning in mid-October. 

Provides holiday meals to individuals and families that visit the Henderson County Food Pantry. Call in advance to set up a meal. 

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.

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.

2025

Toys for Tots Nov 1st - Nov 30th through Bond of Unity (New Beginnings Discipleship Ministries). To qualify you only need to complete the form below. Please know that families are only permitted to register at 1 Toys for Tots location. Signing up at more than 1 Toys for Tots site can disqualify you from being able to receive any toys.

Toys will be available to be picked up at 530 NE Broadway (NE46th), Des Moines, IA on Friday, December 12th 5-7pm and Saturday, December 13th 10am - 2pm.

Please select the time and date that works best for you below. Please complete the form using your most current information. In order to be able to serve more families we will not offer a "shopping" opportunity. Toys are prepacked based on the information given below and will be given out in a drive-thru format.

2025 Toys for Tots Registration Form

​ (This form is specifically for the Toys for Tots program which is not affiliated with "adopt a family" programs at other organizations. Specific toys cannot be requested as we have no control over what is being donated by generous members of the general public.)

Provides a "Toy Store" for families who are unable to buy Christmas presents for their children due to economic conditions. Also are given a ham, potatoes, vegetable, and dessert to prepare Christmas dinner at home.

Register November 17-26, 2025, from 8 am-4 pm, at the Harlem Township, 819 Melbourne Avenue. Must live in Machesney Township.