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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.

2025 New Visions Holiday Celebration:

Community Christmas Family Sign-Up is open as of Oct 15, 2025. Families can receive Christmas gifts, books, games, clothing, and food for the holidays.

Community Christmas will be held on Sat, Dec 13 (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)

Applicants may email [email protected] or visit the website to get signed up: https://form.jotform.com/252786640707162

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.

Categories

Thanksgiving Programs
Easter Programs
Christmas Programs
School Supplies

Provides Christmas food baskets, as well as Christmas gifts for children.

Christmas 2025:

Online applications Wed, Oct 1, 2025 through Fri, Oct 31, 2025. Website: www.saangeltree.org

In-person appointments Oct 20 through Oct 31 (no Tuesdays). Call for questions or appointments.

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)

Maintain and advance the quality of life and economic prosperity, offer a variety of community events including the Christmas giveaway promotion in December.
Provides Christmas toys for children in the community.

Categories

Christmas Programs

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 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.

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

For Christmas 2025:

Applications will open Saturday, November 15th, 2025

Applications will close at 5 pm on Monday, December 10th, 2025.


Distribution details:

Date: Saturday, December 20th, 2025, at 9 am-2 pm

Limited financial aid for emergency situations including utility deposits, rent, prescription medications, glasses, clothing, school supplies, holiday assistance, transportation, birth certificate retrieval, Iowa identification, books for GED testing, etc.

Categories

Assistive Technology Equipment Provision Options
School Supplies
Rent Payment Assistance
Records/Licenses/Permits Fee Payment Assistance
Utility Deposit Assistance
Transportation Expense Assistance
Christmas Programs
Medical Expense Assistance

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.

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:

Complete online application by December 8, 2025. You will be notified by email if you qualify between December 9-12, 2025.

Approved applicants will be notified of specific distribution dates and locations.

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.

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 a Christmas program for kids during the holiday season.

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.

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.

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.

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**

Offers luncheons on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The meals follow the 10:30 am Communion service, which the luncheon guests may attend.

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.

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.

Offers Toy distribution 2025.

To register with The Salvation Army or use the link below on November 1-November 27, 2025 or You can register in person at The Salvation Army.

The actual Salvation Army toy distribution will take place at their downtown Dubuque location at 1099 Iowa St. The Salvation Army phone number is (563)-556-1573.

Visit this link to register https://saangeltree.org/

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.