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Holiday programs.

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

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

Offers help with laundry, gas, clothing, and Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance.

For Thanksgiving 2025, Meal Box Registration is Nov 3-7, from 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm. Bring photo ID, proof of address, and proof of household size (ID/Medical card, etc. for each household member). Food Boxes Distributed November 24, 2025.

For Christmas 2025, Toy Assistance and Meal Box Registration is Nov 17-18, 2025, from 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm. Toy assistance is limited to 600 children, ages 0-12. Bring photo ID, proof of address, proof of household size, and proof of children's birthdates.

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.]

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.]

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.

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.

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.]

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. 

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.

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.

THANKSGIVING: Offering Thanksgiving baskets to individuals that shop at the pantry during regular working hours starting November 10th, 2025, cannot guarantee on ham, turkey, chicken, assistance is first come first serve, no pre-registration required 

CHRISTMAS: ** Agency is not sure if they will be offering food assistance for Christmas, call agency for information** 

**Not offering a Christmas dinner this year 2025** 

Provides a Christmas Eve dinner from 12 pm-2 pm to persons in need. Sign-up begin December 1 2024, and continues until the event is full. Please call the church or email Lu to register.

Delivery is available to ONLY Cedar Rapid residents who are housebound. Must provide address. Deliveries will be made on December 24, 2024, (11 am-1 pm) Call the church to register.

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)

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 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. 

Provides gifts to low income children in Jefferson County during the Christmas holiday.

2025

Provides seasonal meal boxes to families in need for the holidays. We pack and distribute 350 boxes in November for our Turkey Time Together event, and 350 in December for our Family! Feast! These boxes are available by signing up. Information will be provided on the website when availability begins.

Turkey Time Together Event - Closed

December Family Feast - Registration will be available through the Holiday Food Box Collaborative form from November 17, 2025 to November 30, 2025 or until all 500 slots are filled.

Register here: http://bit.ly/HFBRegister

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.

Provides food for the entire family at Christmas time and toys for children age 13 and younger.  Only available to Northern Champaign County residents.  Must provide proof of income for the last 30 days.  Proof of address needed for all members of the household (For example, Medicaid card, report card, daycare letter, doctors bill, etc.)

Registration begins November 3-22, 2025, Mon-Fri 10 am-4 pm, Sat 9 am-12 pm.  Please visit office and provided necessary documents.  

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.

Christmas food for families and toys for children ages 12 and under.

Christmas 2025:

Parents visit the Salvation Army in Hastings to sign up their families to receive toys and food. Sign-up starts Mon, Nov 3 and ends Tue, November 25.

Baskets containing food for a holiday meal and gifts for children ages 16 and under.

Sign Up is the last full week in October, with varying hours.

Distribution of baskets takes place the Wednesday the week prior to Christmas.

Must live with in the area between Brady Street & Lincoln Avenue and River Drive to Kimberly Road.

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.

2025

Offering Christmas baskets on December 16th, 2025, at 10 am-11 am.