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 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

For Christmas Food for 2025, signup dates are:

- 11/19 - 5 pm-8 pm

- 12/3 - 5 pm-8 pm

- 12/6 - 10 am-4 pm

- One signup per household.

- Sign up for food at the Kearney Salvation Army (North doors) at 1719 Central Ave, Kearney. Signing up for toys is a separate process.

For Christmas Toys for 2025:

- Angel Tree is live for signups, as of Oct 2, 2025. Must live in Buffalo County. Sign up at www.saangeltree.org

- The sign-up is for children ages 18 and under.

- Registration deadline to be determined.

- For questions, visit the Salvation Army Kearney page on Facebook and use Facebook Messenger; staff will reply as soon as possible. www.facebook.com/TSAKearney

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

For Christmas 2025:

Winter holiday celebration and activities, including gifts for children, free photos with Santa, face paintings, and more. Occurs annually in December.

Tickets will be available starting at the end of October until Nov 30, or until sold out. Tickets are $1 and can be purchased in advance only at Rising View's leasing office (Offutt AFB).

Event is held Fri, December 5th, 2025, from 6 pm-8 pm, at the Offutt Event Center (formerly the Warhawk Community Center).

All children age 12 and under receive an age-appropriate gift.

This is not a public event. Event is open to enlisted Active Duty and enlisted Retired Service members and their families only. No entry without a ticket.

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

2025 Application dates:

Toy application information for 2025:

10/1/25: Application open date.

12/12/25: Application close date.

12/01/25: Application response start date.

12/22/25: Application response end date.

Toy Distribution:

Starts 12/01/2025, ends 12/23/2025. Approved applicants will be notified of specific distribution dates and locations.

Grandparents are invited to shop every year for their grandchildren during the holiday season. Grandchildren must be 10 years old or younger.

Register for an appointment between November 10th - November 24, 2025. Please bring ID or Clarity card.

Provides gifts to foster families by seeking donations or monetary donations used to purchase gifts, for children. Services include gift wrapping and delivering the gifts to the foster parents before Christmas day. Program may also provide gifts to adult residential clients. Will provide letter of thanks for donation for tax purposes.

For Christmas 2025:

Provides a holiday a food basket and gifts for children.

Starting Oct 1, 2025, and ending Nov 26, 2025, applications will be accepted by same-day appointment only. No applications accepted after Nov 26.

Applicants must bring proof of income for everyone in the household.

To sponsor a child or family or for more information, call Carmen Trevino at (308) 635-3089.

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

A public charity which raises funds and collects toys/games to be distributed to low income families during the holidays.

DONATE CASH OR CHECK: The preferred method for monetary donations is for the individual or business to send a check or money order to the local Toys for Tots Coordinator, made payable to "Toys for Tots" and mailed to: Toys for Tots Coordinator, Marine Corps Reserve Center, Bldg # 47 Dickman Ave., Des Moines IA 50315.

Visit the website to find a list of agencies participating in signing up children for Toys for Tots.

2025

Provides Christmas Dinner 2025 on Sunday December 21, 2025. Dinner go go boxes will be available for walk-up pick up at the front door from 12 pm-1:30 pm , follow the signs for vehicle pick at the side door on Dorgan Place. Delivery service will start at 11 am.

Please call Brenda at (563) 583-1779, Mon-Thu from 7 am-3:30 pm to order a home delivered meal. Deadline to order is Wednesday December 17, 2025.

For Christmas 2024:

Christmas gifts for households with minors ages 13-17.

Online applications are from Oct 31-Nov 21. Apply at www.saangeltree.org

Required documents include state ID, proof of address, proof of income, and birth certificates for minors.

Sign-up on the website Oct 4-18 2025

Provides an application for a holiday wish list for children ages 0-17. Community volunteers try to fulfill the wish lists.

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.

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.

**Toys for Tots applications are closed for this year 2025**

Four Mile and Pioneer Columbus Recreation Centers will help families sign up for 2024 Toys for Tots during the holiday season. Registration begins Nov. 1, 2024, and goes through Nov 30, 2024. Gift pick-ups are Mon Dec. 16, 2024, from 12 pm- 6 pm; Tue Dec. 17, 2024, from 3 pm-8 pm and Dec. 18, 2024, from 12 pm-6 pm at the center where families 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)

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 and Christmas food boxes and Christmas gift distribution for families in the Tri-City area, all on a registered basis.

Please note: To better process information in a timely manner, TSA asks that registrants bring all of the required documents with them at the time of registration. If residents do not have all the information requested, TSA will be unable to process their request. Also, please leave children at home with an adult due to the lengthy registration process.

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.

Food pantry.

Giving Tree provides Christmas presents for children.

For Christmas 2025, Giving Tree registration forms are available at the pantry starting Mon, Oct 7, 2025. Same-day application at the pantry is preferred. Deadline to submit forms is Wed, Nov 19.