Christmas Help for Low Income Families
Don’t Wait Until Winter to Find Christmas Help
This year (2010), charitable agencies expect to have an increase in the number of families seeking assistance for the coming holidays over the amount they serviced in 2008 and 2009. There are national and local agencies offering Christmas help for low income families, but it is important that you contact them as soon as you can if you are a low income family in need of Christmas help.
If you are in need of free toys this Christmas for your children and need help in feeding your family a holiday meal, please contact your local branch of each of the following agencies in August. Ask them how and when you should contact them to get your family on their lists. Most of the agencies have deadlines so they can plan for their holiday giving. When it comes time to register for assistance, it will help to have your children’s first names, ages, sizes, and wish list written down before you contact them.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army provides a large social services program to help needy people of all ages. Donations provide free Christmas toys, dinners, and clothing for families in need. For Thanksgiving and Christmas help, you need to contact your local Salvation Army for details on how to register for holiday food baskets and Christmas toys ASAP! The time is now to make sure your family is on their reservation list.
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a U.S. Marine Corps charity that collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December annually for Christmas. These free Christmas toys are distributed to children of low income families around the United States. Marine Toys for Tots makes it simple for you to receive free toys for your children, or for someone else. Search for the donation site in your state , follow their directions, and contact your local Coordinator.
United Way
United Way is accepting applications for free holiday food and toy assistance. To apply, families may need to present a picture identification card, Social Security cards for all family members, current proof of household income, proof of address (utility bill), and birth certificates or proof of custody for children ages 12 and under. Find your local United Way. The United Way can also direct you to agencies that can help you pay utility bills. Be sure to register for the Angel Tree program for your children to receive new Christmas gifts from local families.
Local Houses of Worship
Many local churches also offer free Christmas toys, meals, and clothes to families low income families. Be sure to reach out to churches in your community.
PLEASE READ: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 - I have received requests from young mothers for help in providing Christmas gifts for their children. As much as I would love to bring smiles to children on Christmas, I am not financially able to do so. All I can do is post information on where families in need may go for assistance - read through all the posts under the category help for families in need.
I really want to hear about your search for help so I can share it with others in hopes that it will help them.
Related Posts
I need help providing christmas for my 3 children im recently divorce and lost my job all in one week. I have no money. Please help
I am a mother of 20 month old girl. I am not able to afford christmas for my daughter this year and i am asking for help. I do not have a job and dont have a ged or licence to get one.
thank you for listening
i work witha young woman whois raising her2 sister age 13 and 14 and her little brother age 9 her mother died 2 years ago and i want to try to get her some help for christmas she is only 21 and she bis doing the best she can and will not ask any one for help so if there is any way that any can help me help her would really be great and i know god would bless you this iam sure of we are from may fair in philadelphia pennsylvania if there is any way any one could help me you can contact me through Nana. my name is stacy thank you and god bless you.
my husband and i have a 7 years old daughter and he is s.s. and i do not work because i have to take care of him and see that she go to school everyday and we are having hard time because of his medinice so high can you help me please
hi I’m a single mom with 4 kids this is my first time asking for help. but i have 3 girls and 1 boy! they just don’t under stand i cant get them anything this year and i want to but i really need help my oldest daughter is 13 sec oldest 10, 8. the boy is 4 years old so if u guys can help my family it would be great i would thank you guys so much and i just want them to have a good Xmas this year but i don’t think it will happen
My name is Tammy and I am the single mother of a 15 yr old girl and a 4 year old boy. I onlu\y receive $198.00 child support on my dughter and nothing for my son. I’m in desperate need of help in providing christmas for them. Im living with my significant other at the time and he has been unable to locate work to provide for his 3 children as well. 2 girls ages 11 and 8 and a boy nine. Our power was shut off recently and possibilities of having service restored are slim as of the moment however we have faith and hope to find a way as well as a job for him. in the meantime if we could get some assistance in making sure our children have a memorable christmas we would greatly appreciate, as would the kids..
May God Bless
Happy Holidays
Married 3kids, 12,10 &7. my husband is a Vet with a purple heart. But right now neither of us can find work and the VA inadvertantly stopped his check.
We get $200.00 food stamps for the 5 of us. Our water was to be shut off today. If anyone could just help our kids have Christmas , that would so appreciated. God Bless You from PA
i’m a single mother of two little girls. one 5 and one 7. their father moved to another state and refuses to have anything to do with them and wont pay his child suport. i miss the angel tree sign ups and am unemployed and am with out a home of our own. we stay at a friends with all three of us in one small room. thay are my life. i couldn’t ask for better kids. they deserver a good christmas and i fear i will be unable to give them one. if there is any one out there that can help or knows where i can find help please feel fre to nottify me through Nana. thank you
Hello I am looking for christmas gifts for my children, does anyone have any suggestions?
I am the Mom of 4 boys, the 2 oldest with my 1st husband and the next 2 with my LAST husband. Neither father comes to see their boys on the court ordered visting days and neither one pays a dime of court ordered child support. I am going to school to provide a better life for us in the future. 3 of my 4 boys have asthma, 3 have A.D.D., and 2 have very severe allergies. Their ages are 11, 10, 7 and 3. The 10 year old has all the illnesses I listed plus he is usually in the hospital at least once a year with pneumonia or a dangerously bad asthma attack. He is not growing properly due to his illness. He has missed so many days of school that he has had to be left back. He is sensative about being left back and about his father not ever coming around.Sometimes the boys think they are the reason their fathers don’t visit. We have weathered through some very tough times without any help from my exes. All of the kids have to take medication on a daily basis. We had to move into a very old run down 2 bedroom trailer and do what we could to make it livable.At least there is no rent on this place and we can’t be evicted. The utilities run high due to repairs that need made.We live here because it is near my parents for safety reasons and for the convenience of having them help watch the boys when one is very sick and for when I am at school, they are use to their allergies and medication so they are a Godsend to us. I can also get a ride from them or borrow a car. We need almost anything you can think of except jackets. They boys have jackets but they could use socks, undies, gloves, shoes, books, pants, longsleeve shirts and toys from Santa. Oldest wears 14 in a shirt, 12 in pants, and 8 in shoes. Next one wears 10 in shirts, 10 slim in pants, 8 in undies and 6 in shoes. The 3rd one wears 10 or 12 in shirt, 10 in pants and 6 in shoes.The youngest wears a large 4 or a small 5 and a 10 in shoes.They love castles, dragons swords, building blocks, cars and trucks, Mickey Mouse, video games and movies, things the average little boy likes and wants. Football,any type of ball, sports and board games. They are not at all picky. May God bless all of you that are helping people in need, you can be a miracle to a family. Thank You.
state: MD
have lost our home and renting but it is hard because my husband is a car salesman and in two weeks he made 700.00 and we are trying to get food stamps to be able to eat i have a 23yr old son working and college
and he strugling to pay his tuition and i have two wonderful girls a 10yr old and 11yr old they know the situation and they tell me they dont want nothing for christmas but they always make a list for santa please if you can help make this christmas happy for them i would be so greatful. i will be praying for somone out there to read this and remenber my kids. GOD BLESS ALL
My name is Christine Lowry. I am also having a hard time. I lost my job of four years back in July. I have not had any luck finding new work. I know the economy is bad all over, but it is even worse in the northwest portion of Alabama. My children are older now one is 16 and the other will be 21 in January. I think my kids will understand my not being able to do for them for Christmas, the thing that I am most scared of is not being able to provide the traditional meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas. One of the posts I read on here that was talking about the Salvation Army, I wanted to let that lady know you do not have to be a member of the military to get help from them. However, there is a deadline, usually in October. Sometimes you can contact Toys for Tots at later points of the season and they will help if they can. One other thing you can do is to get the phonebook and start making phone calls to the churches in your area. Most of the time they are happy to help.
Hi I’m single mom.I haved. 2boys they are8and 6years old.and I have one gird 3years old
If you can help me with some chrismas present tank you.iwant say more but .I’m speak. Spanish .gracias
state: Kansas
I am In desperate need for a FAMILY to Adopt my kids(3) for Christmas I have been let go from my job bout 2 months ago and can hardley put food on the table for my kids, I am still waiting for Social Services to review my app. For Food Stamps-and It is getting close to X-mas Time and I have no money for my kids for X-mas I have been struggling for the past 2 months to pay my bills. I have just found out that my mom was diagnosed with Cancer
and I cant even go to see her I live In Va And She Lives In NY I dont have the funds to get there I have been through so much in my life. I am a single mother of 3 boys 8,14 and 17 I try n do the best I can for them.
please contact me through this site for any other details And God Bless You All……
State: Virginia
I am In desperate need for a FAMILY to Adopt my kids(3) for Christmas I have been let go from my job bout 2 months ago and can hardley put food on the table for my kids, I am still waiting for Social Services to review my app. For Food Stamps-and It is getting close to X-mas Time and I have no money for my kids for X-mas I have been struggling for the past 2 months to pay my bills. I have just found out that my mom was diagnosed with Cancer
and I cant even go to see her I live In Va And She Lives In NY I dont have the funds to get there I have been through so much in my life. I am a single mother of 3 boys 8,14 and 17 I try n do the best I can for them.
please contact me through NanaFinds. And God Bless You All……
state: VA
GREETINGS I RECEIVE SSI AND HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AGES 15 AND 18 BOTH MENTALLY CHALLANGED IM A SINGLE PARENT WHOM IT TAKES ALL WE HAVE TO MAKE IT MONTH TO MONTH I NEED SOME HELP TO GET MY TWO GIRLS CHRISTMAS AS IT STANDS THEY DONT HAVE NOT ONE GIFT AND IT BREAKS MY HEART I JUST WANT TO SEE THEM SMILE. THEY ARE IN NEED OF WINTER CLOTHING AND I PRAY SOMEONE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME CHRISTMAS GIFTS WE LIVE IN LAGRANGE GA. PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH this site may god bless you
i need some help with christmas gift for son this year was so pore for me i dont know what to do no more cause i dont have a job and i need someone to help me p.s p.s and this is my frist time i stay with out a job i get few footstamps and thats all i get relly did my best on writing in this computer cause i dont know how to writ good .thank you so ,dios me los bendiga.
state: Virginia
My name is Doris Roberts i have 5 children 3boys and two girls. I don,t know what we are going to do this year, I am out of work right now and my husband has took very I.ll. I am scared that their will be nothing under the tree this year. I will not be able to live with myself if the kids are not taken care of. Can you help me or refer me to someone that can? thank you very much
state: Ohio
Hello I am a 43 year old unemployed father who watches our almost 2 year old daughter with no income at all my wife has to support us as no jobs are available to me . we have spent our life savings and sold everything we own to make ends meet. We had nothing left for her 2 year birthday witch is tomorrow Nov. 21st 2010 and our Christmas is not going to happen unless we are to be helped our new year does not look so good if I can not get a Job by then.
state: California
Hello I am a 43 year old unemployed father who watches our almost 2 year old daughter with no income at all my wife has to support us as no jobs are available to me . we have spent our life savings and sold everything we own to make ends meet. We had nothing left for her 2 year birthday witch is tomorrow Nov. 21st 2010 and our Christmas is not going to happen unless we are to be helped our new year does not look so good if I can not get a Job by then
Whoever sees this, people will help – wishuponahero.com
Thank you John! I’ve posted and included links in hopes people in need would go to that site. It’s good to hear that people can find help there.
My son is seven years old and this is the first time I have had to ask for this but his birthday is two days after Christmas and I can’t even get him Christmas this year and I would hate for him to be disappointed within two days of each other. I am praying that someone will help him because he has had a rough year. He has a few medical problems and I am so sad that he can’t have the Christmas I wish he could but I will be glad if he can get anything. I only get $500 a month and that does not cover my bills. Please help me. God bless you.
state: Pennsylvania
Hello,
I am a married mother of 4 wonderful children. The last few years have been very rough on us all, as I am in Stage IV Breast Cancer that has Metastases to my bones. I finally got help with SSI but because I was always a stay at home mother … I am not intitled nor my kids to SSD. Then just this August my husband was put off work after 20 years at the same place due to disabilities and his failing health. So another hard blow for my children. They don’t to talk much about it and keep it bottled up, but I know that all this is tearing them up inside. Then going from making a decent middle class living to now getting help from welfare and SSI has been another blow to them.
My kids tell me not to worry about Christmas presents or about getting them anything, but I dont know how many more Christmas’s I will have left with my family. I would never ever eer ask for help and my children would be so embarassed if they knew I had, but I wanted to at least be able to put up our tree and have a few things for them this year.
My oldest son is 19 and trying to finish getting his pell grants to get back into Miami of Hamilton and can use clothes. He likes concert tee shirts or just tee shirts, polo shirts, or jeans size 42/29 or 30 in length and is a 2X in shirts or even hoodies. Also he has a farily new Dell laptop we bought when things was better but the hard drive went out. If anyone has PC smarts and could help get his hard drive fixed for college that would be a wonderful thing for him!
My other son is 15 and he has a Wee System we got when they first came out or again he is into clothing. Hoodies, polo shirts, Aeropostel or american eagle used is fine … he is size 1X in shirts or hoodies and size 38/30 in jeans.
My 13 teen year old daughter is a typical girl and loves make-up perfume, hair stuff, clothes, or jewlery as her ears are done.
She would be happy with any used clothes Aeropostel, Hollester, any shoes or boots coats hoodies anything purses. Again used is wonderful.
Her sizes are 7/9 jeans, Tops she wears a medium, jackets or hoodies a large. Her shoe size is a ladies 7 or 8′s. Anything a teenage girl would like would please her.
Then my youngest is 11 boy he loves toys and boy stuff all the bako things he has a DC handheld game system. He likes board games that we can play together. Anything a 11 year old boy would like.
His sizes in shirts is an 1X ( he’s a big boy) his jeans are tough cause he’s a bit chunky and short. Sweat pantes would be wonderful for him. hoodies an Xlarge he short and round. But as sweet as he can be and has been teased a great deal cause of his glasses, his speech problems, and his weight this year. Then dealing with both his mother being terminally ill and his daddy whos health is failing quickly.
Anyone out there … that could help us bring a few smiles to our childrens faces again this year would be our angel. I know things are hard and tough for so many and I would never ask, again my kids would be so upset and embarressed if they knew I even posted and asked for help. But again I dont know how or if there will be anymore Christmas’s for me to spend with them. When we was having better times, I always tried my best to help others when and where I could and I still would if we was able.
Thank you to anyone who could help on anything.
God Bless you all and rememeber even if your not able to give something to your children …. enjoy the time with them find ways to laugh and enjoy cause being 38 and the thought of not having that for many years to come with my children is the hardest thing to handle.
So hold them tight and laugh,love, and enjoy each other.
Thank you and take care <3
state: Ohio
I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 2 TEENAGERS, AND IN NEED OF HELP FOR CHRISTMAS, I HAVE CALLED EVERY LOCAL PLACE THAT HELPS BUT THEY ARE ALL GEARED FOR 14 AND UNDER AND MINE ARE OLDER THAN THAT. I AM ON SSI FOR I HAVE A BRAIN INJURY AND CANNOT WORK. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO THIS YEAR. CAN ANYONE HELP. EVEN IF IT IS IDEAS, ANYTHING. PLEASE…
state: New Hampshire
****MOM NEEDS IDEAS for her TEENAGERS – CAN YOU OFFER SOME?