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Holiday assistance is available to income-eligible West Des Moines residents.

Applications for December 2025 food assistance and Giftland Program (for children up to age 18) will follow the deadlines listed in the Hours below.

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.

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.

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 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)

2025

Provides toys to those in need during the Christmas holidays. Program available for infants through age 12. 

Visit the Angel Tree website for the application to sign up beginning in October. Dates change annually.

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.

2025 Information:

Offers Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day meals at Crossroads Mission Avenue. Meals start at 1 pm.

Thanksgiving assistance - Offering a turkey giveaway on November 22nd, 2025, at 11 am-1 pm. Open to Dubuque County residents only. Individuals can register on-site the day of the giveaway to receive one free turkey per household.

Christmas assistance - To register for the Toys for Tots 2025 program visit website or in person to register. Open to children ages 14 and under. Registration will remain open until all time slots are full.

The Official Toys for Tots toy distribution site will be at the Multicultural Family Center, 1157 Central Ave. 

Registration link: https://toystortotsdbq.simplybook.me/v2/ 

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

Thanksgiving meal assistance, applications accepted approximately 2-3 weeks before the holiday.

Christmas food and toys Christmas applications accepted from just after Thanksgiving to approximately 10 days before Christmas.

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 program offering shoes, mittens, hats and socks for children.

Registration starts in early October and end November 15th, 2025. The event is held Saturday, December 6th, from 9 am-1 pm. Location is 3100 West 4th Street, Sioux City, IA. 

There will be no pre-registration, and the event will take walk-ins only. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis and only while supplies last. Shoes will not be given out before or after this event. Child must be present at the event to be fitted with shoes and in kindergarten - 8th grade. 

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

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

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.

Offers seasonal services, including holiday food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, with gift cards for turkey, holiday toys and gifts as supplies last, Easter baskets for youth, and Back-to-school supplies and backpacks for students in August.

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.

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.

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.

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.