Get FREE Christmas Gifts & Food in Michigan

We’ve found free Christmas gifts and assistance programs in Michigan! Whether you need help with free toys or free holiday meals, there are many organizations that may be able to help you.

We know firsthand how frustrating it is when you can’t provide your kiddos with a huge holiday celebration. Sometimes, financial stress can make the holidays downright stressful and depressing. That’s why these agencies are available to help!

Free Christmas Help in Michigan

There are some agencies that you can reach out to, no matter where you live in Michigan state. These well-known agencies serve communities all over state!

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is infamous for their red kettle campaign during the Christmas season. The funds they gather are used to help low income families across America. In order to receive assistance, you’ll usually need to register for their Angel Tree or other assistance programs.

There are several Salvation Army locations in Michigan. They have service centers in Alma, Bay City, Detroit, Midland, Mt. Pleasant and Saginaw. The programs may vary between different locations.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The Angel Tree program provides free Christmas gifts to children and sometimes seniors. Other programs, like their hot congregate meals, are available to anyone who may be going through a hard time.

HOW TO GET HELP: You can apply for the Angel Tree online. For other Christmas help, you’ll need to contact your nearest Salvation Army office.

Toys for Tots

The Marine Toys for Tots campaign provides low income households with free Christmas gifts for their children. Through this program, the Marine Corps Reserve collects and distributes free Christmas gifts, including toys and other presents, to families in need. This gesture not only puts smiles on children’s faces but also alleviates the financial burden that parents may face during the holiday season.

There are currently Toys for Tots campaign in almost every Michigan county. There are only 17 counties that are not covered by a Toys for Tots program.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The Toys for Tots campaign provides free Christmas gifts to children. The age limits vary by location but are usually between 12 and 17 years old.

HOW TO APPLY: Go to the Toys for Tots website and click the Request a Toy button. Follow the prompts to select your state and county. This will unlock the application instructions for your area.

More Christmas Help

There are other organizations that provide Christmas help in Michigan as well! Check our list of nationwide holiday assistance programs to find more ways that you may be able to get help this season.

Local Christmas Help in Michigan

Depending on where you live, you may be able to get even more assistance from your local Churches and other charitable organizations. Below, we’ll break down the resources we’ve found by county and city for your convenience.

Genesee County

Catholic Charities in Flint provides free Christmas gifts to children in Genesee County through the Angel Tree program. Children must be 17 or younger in order to qualify. The signups happen in October so you need to register early in the season to get help from this program.  

North End Soup Kitchen in Flint is open on Christmas Day. Anyone who doesn’t have a holiday dinner can come and enjoy a community feast. Children who attend receive a new toy and clothes. Adults who attend can get hygiene kits, towels, socks, scarves and hats.

Old Newsboys Of Flint provides a free Christmas gift and winter clothing for children in the area. This program can provide children with a sweatsuit, socks, coats, underclothes and various hygiene products as well. Parents must enroll their children for them to receive a free box. This program requires parents to register early in the season.

This organization also has a coat and shoes program that provides help to school students who need them. In order to access this program, you must contact your school counselor or parent liaison for a referral.

Muskegon County 

Mission for Area People in Muskegon Heights provides Christmas help for low income families with older children. Since Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army serve children age 15 and under, this program specifically provides Christmas assistance for teens between the ages of 15 and 18. Parents need to sign up in late November or early December in order to pick up their gifts in time for Christmas.

Ottawa County

Jehovah Jireh Ministries of West Michigan invites people struggling to make ends meet to their pantry for free food. They might have holiday ingredients available to assist with your Christmas meal.

Project Hope offers grocery items for families who need it. During the holidays, Project Hope may provide free holiday dinner boxes filled with all the ingredients needed to make a traditional holiday meal.

Wayne County

Detroit Goodfellows provides free Christmas gifts to children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. They only serve children who live in Detroit, Ecorse, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Redford, or River Rouge. Each child receives a toy, as well as warm clothing, books, a dental kit and more. You must apply on their website in order to get help.

Capuchin Christmas Cheer gathers donated gift cards to Meijer and Target for low income families in Detroit. Clients who use their soup kitchens can receive a $25 or $50 gift card to purchase food and gifts for their families. There are other programs offered by the Capuchins that may be able to help you as well.

Helping Hands in Flat Rock provides free Christmas help in the form of holiday food baskets and Christmas toys. This program is a collaborative effort among local organizations and only serves children and families in the Flat Rock area.

Detroit Senior Solutions can deliver Christmas meals to seniors on Christmas day. Those who would rather attend a hot holiday meal may be able to get help with transportation to a community meal location.

Relief Recap

There are many ways to get Christmas help in Michigan! Whether you’re looking for free Christmas gifts or a hot holiday meal, there are organizations available that can help you make the most of your holiday season. Contact the organizations on this list or call 211 for additional resources in your area.

Nicole Thelin

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.