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Get FREE Christmas Help in South Carolina!

Get FREE Christmas Help in South Carolina!

Christmas help in South Carolina is easy to find if you know where to look! Whether you’re looking for free Christmas gifts or even a free decorated Christmas tree, we’ve found agencies that may be able to help you.

I understand how frustrating it is when you can’t provide your kiddos with a huge holiday celebration or even a single present. I’ve been there. When my son was young, he received gifts from charitable organizations like this and it made all the difference. Now it’s my goal to make sure that other families never go without on the holidays.

Free Christmas Help in South Carolina

We found agencies that help around the United States. These agencies have branches that operate at the local level and many offer free Christmas gifts and food in South Carolina.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is well-known for their Angel Tree and Red Kettle holiday campaigns. They help families all over the United States get free Christmas gifts, meals and more.

The Angel Tree program allows individuals and organizations to adopt an “angel” – usually a child or senior – by fulfilling their Christmas wish list. Gifts often include toys, clothes, and other special items. This program ensures that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can experience the magic of the holiday season.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Anyone in need can usually get a hot meal. The free Christmas gifts are usually reserved for children and seniors in low income households.

HOW TO GET HELP: You can register a child for the Salvation Army Angel Tree on the Angel Tree website. Some branches don’t accept online applications, so you may need to reach out to your local Salvation Army if you can’t submit your application online.

Toys for Tots

This U.S. Marines program might be able to help you get free Christmas gifts for your kids! This program is organized by the US Marine Corps Reserve. They gather toys all over the United States for low income children who need them.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Typically, the Toys for Tots program serves children who are ages 12 and under. The exact age limit may vary by location, though. You also need to live in a participating county. Only seven counties are not covered by Toys for Tots.

HOW TO GET HELP: Just head over to the Toys for Tots website and click the Request a Toy button. You will need to select South Carolina from the state drop-down menu and then choose your county.

Country Santa

Country Santa collects toys for children who live in upstate South Carolina. John Cox, the individual who founded this program, tries to give about $50 worth of toys to each child. They are either new or gently used.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Children who are between the ages of 1 month and 18 years old are eligible to receive toys. You must live in upstate South Carolina, which this organization defines as Oconee, Pickens or the surrounding counties. It appears that the surrounding counties may include Anderson, Greenville, and Transylvania counties.

HOW TO GET HELP: Country Santa helps children who are referred by an outside agency. You will need to contact your local school, church or social service agency to ask for a referral.

More Christmas Help

There are even more nationwide organizations that help families in South Carolina! If you need a decorated tree, a hot meal, or gifts from a different organization, don’t forget to check out our Nationwide Christmas Resource List for even more ways to get Christmas help!

Local Christmas Help in SC

There are even more organizations that can help families in South Carolina at the local level! These organizations are usually local churches, charities and nonprofits that serve a very limited geographic area. To find one near you, scroll to your county subheading below.

Berkeley County

Star Gospel Mission offers gift cards for the holiday season to people who are working with their social services team. They serve Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties! If you need a little extra help, make sure to connect with this agency early!

Charleston County

Star Gospel Mission offers gift cards for the holiday season to people who are working with their social services team. They serve Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties! If you need a little extra help, make sure to connect with this agency early!

Dorchester County

Residents in Dorchester County can get help from the organizations in this section. This includes residents of St. George, Ridgeville, and Harleyville!

Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center in Summerville receives donated gifts for children who have experienced abuse or other forms of trauma. In order to get gifts from this organization, your child must already be working with them. Many organizations in the area, including the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Summerville, donate gifts to this program.

Star Gospel Mission offers gift cards for the holiday season to people who are working with their social services team. If you need a little extra help, make sure to connect with this agency early!

Horry County

Are you in Myrtle Beach? Loris? Conway? Carolina Forest? Little River? We found Christmas help throughout Horry County from the organizations in this section.

Churches Assisting People in Conway offers several services to low income families living in Horry County, South Carolina. They offer help with food but may be able to assist with other needs as well. You can fill out a Request Services form on their website.

Community Kitchen Inc. in Myrtle Beach offers daily hot meals for low-income families and others. They may have a Thanksgiving and Christmas meal.

North Strand Helping Hand in Longs invites all families in need to their Christmas food distribution event. During the event families will receive free Christmas meals for the entire family. They may or may not offer other forms of Christmas help, depending on donations.

Yachts for Tots in North Myrtle Beach hosts an annual boat parade called the Intracoastal Christmas Regatta. This event fundraises and collects toys, which are given to low income families living in Horry County. It is not clear how to get help from this organization, but I’ve heard that your school counselor may be able to make a referral for you.

Lancaster County

If you’re in Lancaster County, we’ve found agencies that can provide Christmas help in your area! Whether you live in Kershaw, Irwin or another town, these agencies may be able to help you.

Christian Services in Lancaster operates an Angel Tree program that helps low income families in the area. Their program provides families with clothing, toys, and other gifts through the generosity of community members and organizations.

Relief Recap

There are many organizations that offer Christmas help in South Carolina! From well-known nationwide charities to homegrown community initiatives, this list offers a comprehensive view of all the holiday assistance programs we’ve found in your area. Remember to check back next year, because we’re constantly adding new resources as we find them!

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.

Catherine Marucci

Monday 4th of December 2023

Hi. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 to see if there is anything else they can suggest.

Debra

Tuesday 14th of November 2023

@Tabitha Dillard, ACTS of Aiken/Graniteville, Salvation Army are definite resources for help. ACTS has a list of other organizations once you go through their interview process. Good luck! Also, often large local churches take names of needy families and help out as they can.

Catherine Marucci

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

If you have already tried the resources listed above, it may be worth contacting 211 to see if there is anything else they can suggest. You can call them directly or visit their website: https://www.211.org/

Catherine Marucci

Saturday 3rd of December 2022

Hi. If you have already tried the options above, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything in your area.

Catherine Marucci

Thursday 1st of December 2022

Hi Leia. If you have already tried the options listed above, it may be worth calling 211 to see what else they can suggest.