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Get FREE Christmas Gifts and Food in Washington!

Get FREE Christmas Gifts and Food in Washington!

Need a little Christmas help? There are organizations all over Washington that can help you get free Christmas gifts, food and more!

I know firsthand how frustrating it is when you can’t provide your kiddos with a huge holiday celebration. When we lived in Issaquah in about 15 years ago, we couldn’t provide Christmas for our young son. I was shocked when he received a wrapped shoebox full of little gifts. It turns out our landlord had referred us to a local Christmas gift program. It made a world of difference to our little family!

If you could use a Christmas miracle, this article is the place to be. We’ve found many agencies that can help with free Christmas gifts and food in Washington!

Free Christmas Help in Washington

Many large nationwide organizations like Salvation Army and Toys for Tots serve families in Washington State. In this section, we’ll talk about those big charities. For more specialized local help, be sure to check out the list below.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army connects families in need with generous donors who can fulfill their wishes. This is usually done through their famous Angel Tree program.

This program can provide free Christmas toys, clothing, or other special gifts. Families in need can register for the Angel Tree program, and once registered, their wish lists are shared with kind-hearted donors who want to make their holiday season brighter.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The Salvation Army’s Christmas program serves children and sometimes seniors. Occasionally, the entire family may receive help with a holiday meal.

HOW TO APPLY: You may be able to apply on the Angel Tree website. In some areas, online applications are not accepted and you will need to contact your local Salvation Army for instructions.

The Forgotten Children’s Fund

Forgotten Children’s Fund will send Santa and a team of elves to deliver gifts, warm coats, blankets and food to your family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. They focus on serving families who do not qualify for help from other organizations.

This company is based in Wenatchee but serves families in the following areas:

  • Lewis County
  • King County
  • Skagit County
  • Snohomish County

The screening process for this organization begins in the fall but they will continue to accept applications until mid-December. They do not leave voicemails but they will make three attempts to call you before they stop trying.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: This program serves children who do not qualify for other public or charitable assistance.

HOW TO APPLY: You will need to follow the instructions for your county, which are listed on The Forgotten Children’s Fund website.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program, has been a beacon of hope and joy for children during the holiday season since 1947. This remarkable initiative collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children in communities across the country.

This program does not allow you to choose the free toys your children get. However, you can rest assured that they will be geared for your child’s age and gender.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Toys for Tots typically serves children ages 12 and under. However, the age limit may vary in some areas.

HOW TO APPLY: It’s easy to request a toy online! Just go to the Toys for Tots website and click the Request a Toy button to get started.

Other Christmas Help

There are more nationwide agencies that provide help in Washington as well! We have a list of over a dozen Christmas assistance programs that may help you in our Nationwide Christmas Resource Directory. Go check it out!

Get Free Christmas Gifts Near You

Some of the best Christmas assistance programs are the ones in your local community. Scroll to your county subheading below to find Christmas help near you.

Clark County

Activate Church in Camas provides an annual Christmas Event at the park. At Esther Short Park, they provide Christmas carols and holiday crafts. They also give away 100 free Christmas trees to families who need them!

Mustard Seed Church in Battleground provides free food for the community. If you need help with your holiday meal, they may be able to provide some food for you.

One Life in Vancouver provides a shopping-style experience for guests. You can receive one box of food per month and may be able to receive pet food. If you need help over the holidays, this is a great resource!

Mason County

North Mason Lions Club in Belfair offers a Giving Tree  program during the holiday season. They serve children in the Belfair, Allyn and surrounding areas.

Shelton Holiday Magic provides free holiday Christmas activities. They provide bonfires, marshmallow roasting, and a parade each year. You may even get free admission to a holiday movie when you donate two food items!

T’s Cafe and Espresso in Shelton hosts a Christmas Giving Tree every year. Mason County families in needs are able to apply for aid. If approved, they can write their Wishlist and hang them on the tree, where generous donors can fulfill their Christmas wishes. 

Hood Canal Food Bank in Hoodsport opens their food pantry to families in need throughout Mason County and surrounding areas. It is open the first and third Monday of every one, even during the holidays Families might be able to get free help with holiday food items.

Saint’s Pantry offers once-per-month food pantries for people in Mason County. You might also be able to get food that’s holiday-centric during the holiday months!

King County

Divine Alternatives for Dads Services in Seattle offers help for dads! Their services include case management, legal research assistance, child support, parenting classes and more. In some of their newsletters, they’ve talked about holiday assistance so they may be able to help you connect with a program that can provide free Christmas gifts for your kids!

Hopelink has multiple locations throughout the county. When funding allows, they give free gift cards to families. The gift cards are intended to help you purchase free Christmas toys, games, books or whatever else your family needs for your holiday traditions.

These free holiday gift cards are only available to families who are already receiving Hopelink services, so you need to make sure that you are connected to Hopelink before the holidays. I’m a big fan of this organization, because they’ve helped my family with food and housing costs in the past. They have a ton of resources that can help you!

Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank in Issaquah provides free gift cards to families with children age 18 and under who live in their clothing service area. Applications open after Thanksgiving each year.

Ricks Toys for Kids in Seattle gathers toys for qualifying charities, who then distribute them to the kids in need. You can find the list of agencies that receive toys from this agency and contact them if you need holiday help.

Kitsap County

Bremerton Foodline is an organization that provides emergency food assistance to Kitsap, WA families in need. They may provide special help with holiday meals as well.  

Kitsap Community Resource Center has blessed more than 17,000 low income children in Kitsap County with Christmas joy. This program provides free Christmas gifts and clothing items to families who qualify.

Pierce County

Divine Alternatives for Dads Services in Lakewood is a great resource for fathers! We have more information about them under the King County subheading above.

Joy Box Ministry in Tacoma provides an anonymous gift box to people who are having a hard time. The box includes five personal letters and five wrapped gifts. You can request one box per year.

Shop With A Cop in Tacoma invites children from low income families to shop with a law enforcement officer. During their visit, the kids will enjoy refreshments, pictures with Santa, goodie bags and more.

Toy Rescue Mission in Tacoma, offers seasonal assistance to families currently using state services and meet their criteria. This organization can provide free Christmas gifts, free Easter baskets, new backpacks in the fall and more.

Skagit County

Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund in Mount Vernon offers the Sponsor A Family program for low-income families that cannot give gifts to their children on Christmas. Sponsors can provide free Christmas gifts, toys, stuffed animals, winter gear and holiday meals.

Hamilton Community Food Bank in Hamilton provides a food pantry for people in need. During the holiday months, there may be assistance available for holiday meal ingredients.

Helping Hands in Sedro-Woolley offers several food assistance programs for low-income, working poor, seniors, and veterans living in Skagit County. They may also be able to help with holiday meal ingredients.

Snohomish County

Bethany Christian Assembly in Everett has many different programs that can help you, including a Christmas Giving Tree. They also have a food bank that may be able to supplement your holiday meal.

Christmas House in Everett provides free gifts for low income children age 18 and younger. To qualify, you must reside in Snohomish County and have an income that is equal or less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

Millennia Ministries in Everett offers help with holiday dinners. They may offer other programs that may be able to help you as well.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Everett provides free Christmas baskets to low income children every year. They receive the names from the Volunteers of America Christmas Basket program, so you’ll need to contact VOA to apply.

Whatcom County

The Community Assistance Program in Whatcom County is accepting applications for Thanksgiving meal baskets and holiday toys. You must apply by November 10th for Thanksgiving assistance or November 26th for Christmas assistance.

FAQs about Christmas Help in WA

Sometimes we get questions about the Christmas help programs in Washington State. If you have questions, let us know in the comments!

What about DSHS Christmas help?

In prior years, we were able to confirm that Washington State DSHS offered Christmas help referrals to children in the foster care system. However, we were unable to confirm this in 2023. It is not clear if the program has ended or if it is just not advertised now.

Relief Recap

If you’re in search of free Christmas help in Washington, a wide range of agencies are ready to lend a helping hand! This comprehensive list includes both renowned organizations like the Salvation Army and smaller, local groups, all dedicated to making your holiday season brighter. It’s tailored to guide you in finding places where you can apply for free Christmas gifts in your area. For more personalized help or to explore additional options, don’t hesitate to reach out to the agencies listed here or dial 211 for tailored support.

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 18th of December 2023

Hi. It may be worth calling 211 to see if they know what is available in your area.

Catherine Marucci

Monday 18th of December 2023

Hi. It may be worth calling 211 to see if they know what is available in your area.

Scarlett

Sunday 3rd of December 2023

I didn't see Clark county or did I miss something?

Catherine Marucci

Monday 4th of December 2023

If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 to see if there is anything else they can suggest. I hope you find something!

Catherine Marucci

Sunday 26th of November 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.

Catherine Marucci

Sunday 26th of November 2023

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