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Get FREE Christmas Toys & Food in Louisiana

Get FREE Christmas Toys & Food in Louisiana

Looking for free Christmas gifts near you? You’ve come to the right place! Our team is constantly uncovering new ways that you can get free toys, free food and more Christmas help during the holiday season.

After all, at Low Income Relief, 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. Fortunately, there are agencies that can help!

Free Christmas Gifts in Louisiana

There are many nationwide agencies that also serve families in Louisiana. These include major big-name organizations like the Salvation Army and others.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army’s renowned Angel Tree program brings Christmas cheer to children and seniors throughout the holiday season.

This program takes some time to coordinate. Families need to register, the Salvation Army needs to set up the trees, and then generous donors must shop for the items and turn them in so that the Salvation Army can distribute them to the families who need them. As a result, you usually have to apply very early in the season to participate. Many Angel Tree programs stop accepting applications in September or early October.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: This program typically serves children age 12 and under, as well as seniors over age 65.

HOW TO APPLY: You can apply on the Salvation Army Angel Tree website. Some organizations don’t accept online applications. If that’s the case, you’ll need to contact your local Salvation Army branch for instructions.

Shop with a Cop

Many police departments throughout the country offer a Shop with a Cop program. These programs invite children from disadvantaged or low income families to shop with an officer at a local retail store. During the trip, they usually enjoy treats and get to pick out toys, clothing and other gifts.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Eligibility requirements vary by department but usually this program is available for school-age children.

HOW TO APPLY: You will need to contact your local police department and ask if they offer a program like this. If they do, you’ll need to ask what the rules are and how to apply.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots has been spreading holiday cheer around the United States since 1947! This program is administered by the Marine Corps Reserve. They gather donated toys throughout the season and then distribute those toys to families that need them.

Most of Louisiana is covered by the Toys for Tots program. However, the following parishes are NOT covered: Assumption, Avoyelles, East Feliciana, Grant, Iberville, Jackson, Lasalle, Morehouse, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. James, Union, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn Parishes.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Children age 12 and under who live in an area that is covered by this program can apply for help.

HOW TO APPLY: You need to visit the Toys for Tots website and click the “Request a Toy” button to complete the application.

Other Christmas Help

There are more ways to get free Christmas gifts near you if you live in Louisiana! There are many large nationwide organizations that also serve families in your area. Get the details in our nationwide Christmas resource list!

You may also be able to find more ways to get free Christmas gifts near you by calling 211 or texting your zip code to 898-211. This will connect you with the United Way’s resource directory that may have additional resources for your family. You don’t want to miss the resources they have!

Free Christmas Help Near You

There are countless smaller, local agencies that also help you with free Christmas gifts and other needs. Scroll to find your county and city in the list below to find out how you can get more Christmas help near you.

Acadia Parish

ASSIST Agency in Crowley provides free Christmas gifts to children in low income families. They may also be ablet o help you apply for Medicaid, get free food, help with your rent or utilities and more!

Baton Rouge Parish

The East Baton Rouge Lions Club in Baton Rogue offers Christmas Gift Baskets for nearby families in need during the Christmas holiday season. It is unclear if these baskets contain toys as well as non-perishable food items, but you can always send them an email for more information. 

Beauregard Parish

Beauregard Community Action Association in DeRidder provides a senior sock tree. This tree gathers donations of free socks and slippers for seniors in the community. They also have an Angel Tree program that can help families with children in the home. You must apply before the end of November in order to participate.

Caddo Parish

Roy’s Kids in Shreveport provides Christmas help for low income families in their nearby community. They have been helping kids for more than 13 years, thanks to community support. You can apply on their website.

Calcasieu Parish

Care Help of Sulphur provides a food pantry that serves residents of Sulphur and Carlyss. In addition to being able to provide food to help with your holiday meal, this organization also offers help with other needs like rent, utilities, gas, bus tickets, dental care, clothing, medicine, furniture and more.

Jefferson Parish

Access Health Louisiana in Kenner hosts an annual Jingle Bell Bash in mid-December. This event provides free gifts and prizes to people in the community. Some of the items included bicycles, dollhouses, watches, jewelry, ice skating passes, gift cards and more! The event is held in the Esplanade Mall.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans offers free Christmas baskets to low income families who need help with food. They also have an “Adopt a Family” program that allows generous donors to adopt families who need free Christmas gifts.

CrossLife Fellowship Church in Westwego provides a holiday luncheon outreach program.

St. Augustine’s in Metairie offers the Angel Tree program for low-income families who cannot afford gifts for their children during the holidays. Each family provides a wish list of items each of their children want and these items get purchased by community members or organizations. Each child who is selected may receive a toy and one item of clothing.

The Times-Picayune Doll and Toy Fund in New Orleans has been providing Christmas assistance to low income families in need for more than 125 years! This organization gathers monetary donations and new toys, which they give away every year at their annual toy distribution event. The event usually takes place in early December.

Victory Church in Metarie hosts an annual event called the Great Big Toy Giveaway. The event provides free gifts to 500 children from the community on a first-come, first-served basis. The event happens in the first few days of December each year.

St. Charles Parish

St. Charles Parish hosts an annual Toy and Gift Event at the Edward Community Center in Luling. This information has occurred annually for several years but the site has not been updated to reflect this year’s information yet.

St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Project Christmas in Slidell provides a full Christmas meal and Christmas gifts for children who need them. They serve children age 18 and under, as long as they are still in school. They also serve seniors who are 65 years old or older. Families must apply in advance and pick up their items the week before Christmas Day.

Vermillion Parish

Christian Service Center in Abbeville may be able to provide Christmas help. They provide many helpful services to low income members of their community, including help with utilities and more.

Relief Recap

There are many resources in Louisiana that can provide you with free Christmas toys, holiday meals and more! If you need help applying for free Christmas gifts near you, be sure to contact the providers on this list. You can also call or text 211 for more personalized information.

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

Tuesday 20th of December 2022

Hi Amber. It might still be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything that is available in your area.

Jade Eschete

Wednesday 14th of December 2022

Looking for info for Houma, LA please! Thank you!

Catherine Marucci

Thursday 15th of December 2022

Hi Jade. If you have already tried the resources above, it may be worth contacting 211 to see if they know of any programs that might still have room on a list.

Catherine Marucci

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

Hi Dawn. If you have already checked the resources above, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything.

Tabitha Romero

Monday 20th of December 2021

Lake charles la was on ur list