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

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 curbside distribution of holiday provisions for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

2025 Information:

Registration during regular food pantry hours (Mon, Wed, Fri 9 am-11:30 am, 3rd Wed only afternoon pantry 2:30 pm-5 pm) beginning October 1, 2025, until all slots are filled. Choose a Thanksgiving or Christmas basket.

Solicits monetary donations to purchase specifically requested toys for less fortunate children in Lincoln, Nebraska, ages 1-13 for Christmas.

Works with social service agencies in Lincoln, Nebraska to qualify families.

The National Guard provides volunteers to help sort applications and distribute toys.

Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas toy assistance for 2025 dates and times to be determined.

Provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the year. Special holiday meals are offered at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Breakfast Mon-Sun: 7:30 am, Lunch Mon-Sun: 11:30 am, Dinner Mon-Sun: 5 pm, at chapel.

Thanksgiving Meal Wednesday before Thanksgiving: 12 pm.

Christmas Meal Christmas Eve Day 12 pm.

Easter Meal Easter Sunday: 12 pm.

Offers a Christmas toy program for children ages 0-17. Pre-registration is required, visit website on November 12-December 2nd to sign up, first come first serve. Registering is not a promise of service until confirmation and further instructions are given. Calls may begin as soon as one week after the beginning of registration. Gifts will be given on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, at 11 am-3 pm.

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 community meal, served Nov 26, 2025, 11:30 am-1 pm. No registration is required; this is a sit-down, in-person meal.

Christmas assistance/toys and ham (in partnership with Toys for Tots). Registration open Oct 20-Nov 21, 2025. Sign up online at sacedarrapids.org, click on Holiday Assistance. Call for (319) 364-9131 for assistance if unable to do this. Households with children ages newborn up to 14 (on 12/25) can sign up for toys and a ham. Households without children eligible for toys can sign up for a ham.

Christmas community meal, served Dec 19, 2025, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. No registration required; this is a sit-down, in-person meal.

Providing a Toys for Tots 2025 signup/distribution site and food baskets. Visit website for more information on dates and times to register.

Grants special requests to individuals in the Lincoln community.

For Christmas 2024, submit nominations on behalf of friends and family who are in need and/or deserve a special favor. 10 families or individuals will be chosen, and wishes will be granted in December.

Application forms available online only. The deadline is November 15th, 2024.

Holiday gift program; services may vary annually.

Must register by December 5, 2025, to receive toys.

Offers free clothing, household goods and items, and food to anyone that is looking for some extra help for the holiday. The event will provide a free sit-down meal for the entire family.

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.

Provides a Community Christmas Store - Children ages birth to fourteen are eligible. Parents pay $5.00 per child to shop. The store will feature NEW clothing, winter apparel, blankets, books and toys for the parents to select from.

Christmas Baskets - Families receive all the ingredients for a traditional holiday meal.

All children, ages birth to twelve, from qualifying families for both programs, will have their names placed on the Angel Tree at Midwest Bank.

Applications are accepted between October 1, 2025 and the day before Thanksgiving 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.

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:

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 a community Thanksgiving meal in November. Residents may apply for special food box and toy distributions for Christmas.

- 2025 Salvation Army Angel Tree Program:

Sign-up open Sep 1-Oct 31, 2025. Apply Online at www.saangeltree.org

- Toy Shop pick-up Dec 16-17, 2025.

Helps provide Christmas gifts for children and senior adults each year. Once registered and accepted, each Angel's Christmas wish list is shared with donors in the community, who purchase new clothing and toys for the family.

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.

Thrift shop with vouchers provided by most churches, government offices, and community agencies.

School supply distribution.

Santa's workshop provides Christmas presents.

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.

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.]

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.