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

Thanksgiving Baskets: No Thanksgiving baskets this year for 2025. Registration is now closed. 

Christmas Toy Registration (Angel Tree) For families with children 0-15 years old: Registration is online for Christmas 2025. Applicants must register between October 27th through November 30th, Mon-Fri 9:30 am-11:45 am and 1 pm-4 pm.

This annual holiday event is free for children in foster care, adopted from foster care, kinship placement, relative placement and other children living in the foster household.

Registration is required and will close when full. Please visit website for more information regarding dates and registration forms. Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration toy distribution Sunday, December 14th, 2025, from 10 am-12 pm and 1 pm-3 pm.

Event held at Hawkeye Downs Expo Hall, 4400 Sixth Street SW in Cedar Rapids. Each child must be registered online via the website, keep a lookout for dates. Register early as this event fills up quickly. To donate to the toy drive, the deadline is Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. Drop off location is 6000 7th St SW in Cedar Rapids. 

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

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

Holiday Adoption program.  Christmas 2026 information TBD.

[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.]

For Christmas 2025:

Heart of Christmas is Sat, Dec 6th, from 10 am-11 am, held at the Faith Church in Rock Valley, IA. Provides a Christmas store for children ages 3-11, and parents pay $5 per child to choose and wrap a gift. The store closes at 10:45 am, so parents must arrive before that time.

This also qualifies parents to receive a holiday meal kit. Children enter the Christmas Carnival area with a variety of games and decorate Christmas cookies. There is an interactive retelling of the Christmas story.

Parents must register by Nov 21. Register online at www.loveincsiouxcounty.org, our facebook page, or call (712) 476-5990. No registration needed for Christmas Carnival. (All children must be accompanied by a parent at the event.)

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.

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

2025 Information:

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

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.

Mini bus for disabled and senior citizens.

City information and referral.

Emergency food.

Emergency financial assistance for Bellevue residents.

Holiday Assistance Program.

Holiday assistance for 2025 includes Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts (for children up to age 18). Baskets are distributed via the MATURA Adams County Outreach Center.

THANKSGIVING BASKETS: Complete an application between (dates to be determined).

CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Applications are taken from (dates to be determined).

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.

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.

2026

Provides holiday foods shoppers can choose to cook a holiday meal. This is not a food basket or meal.

Groceries will be on a first-come, first served basis, December 16th-21st, 2026. There is no registration required. 

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.

Christmas 2026 details to be determined.

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.

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

School supply distribution.

Santa's workshop provides Christmas presents.

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.

Salvation Army Angel Tree Sign-ups will be online, to register, visit the website www.saangeltree.org. Registration for toys begins October 1, 2025 and will end November 15, 2025. If issues occur with the website or if individual doesn't have internet, call for further assistance. Can only sign children up that are ages 12 and under. (Salvation Army Angel Tree Program is a Toys for Tots program).

Provides 2 to 3 toys for children ages 0-17. To be eligible for registration, a form of ID for every child and photo ID for the parent or legal guardian is required. The following ID's are accepted: Social Security Card preferred, birth certificate, passports, Medicaid or insurance cards, school ID cards, or state issued ID. Parent or legal guardian must be present to register children to receive gifts.

For Christmas 2025:

Registration opens Nov 1, 2025.

Provides Christmas gifts and a food basket to Iowa County residents. Taking applications through Fri Nov 8, 2024.

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.

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.