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Get FREE Christmas Help in New Mexico | Toys, Food & More!

Get FREE Christmas Help in New Mexico | Toys, Food & More!

Looking for free Christmas help in New Mexico? Numerous organizations and agencies are available to offer your family complimentary Christmas presents, festive meals at no cost, and a host of other holiday support!

We understand what it’s like to stare at the calendar, dreading the upcoming holiday because you don’t have anything to look forward to. We’ve been there more than once. Some of the charities on this came through and delivered gifts for my family. If you follow the instructions in this article, they may be able to do the same for your family too.

Get Free Christmas Help in New Mexico

Finding help with free Christmas gifts and food in New Mexico doesn’t have to be hard. No matter what part of the state you are in, you could get help from different organizations to help make Christmas an even more special time for you and your kids! These organizations have local branches, but they are available for those qualified throughout the state.

Northern NM Toy Drive

Every year, EXIT Realty Advantage hosts an massive toy drive called Northern NM Toy Drive. They gather thousands of toys from generous donors, and then those toys are distributed through local agencies. You have to work with one of the local agencies in order to get the toys.

The agencies that receive toys from the Northern NM Toy Drive include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Santa Fe Public Schools, Youth Shelters and more.

  • Barrios Unidos
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Casa Familia
  • ​CASA First
  • Children of Mora​ County
  • Children of San Miguel County
  • Child Youth Family Department
  • Consuelo’s Place
  • ​Eastern Navajo Nation (Torreon/Cuba)
  • Face Program, Kha’p’o Community School
  • Family Strength’s Network Grandparents Group
  • ​Gerard’s House​
  • ​Jemez Pueblo
  • ​Los Alamos YMCA Espanola Teen Center​
  • Las Cumbres – Family Infant Toddler​
  • Mas Comunidad Community Resource​
  • NMDOH Children’s Medical Service Northeast​
  • PMS Espanola
  • PMS Family Health
  • Santa Fe Indigenous Center
  • Sante Fe Public Schools Adelante Program
  • Santa Fe Public Schools Teen Parent Program
  • Santo Domingo Social Services
  • The Life Link
  • Villa Therese Clinic
  • YDI NM
  • Youth Shelters

Salvation Army 

While the Salvation Army is a great resource you can use year-round, it’s especially helpful at Christmas. This is one of the most well-known programs that provides Christmas help in New Mexico. Not only are they able to possibly help through their Angel Tree program, but they may also have access to other resources to help you.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The Salvation Army usually serves children and seniors. Sometimes, they may be able to provide help with gifts or food for the entire family. It depends on how your local chapter administers this program.

HOW TO APPLY: You may be able to fill out an Angel Tree application online. Some locations require you to apply in person instead. In that case, you can use the Salvation Army Location Tool to find your nearest office.

Toys for Tots

The Marines’ Toys for Tots is always a huge hit throughout the United States. You might be able to get help through this toy distribution. It is available in most areas of New Mexico. Only 15 counties are not covered by Toys for Tots.

Spots fill up quickly so make sure that you apply with enough time in advance to help increase your chances of getting on the list. You might be asked to provide information on your child’s gender, their age and things they’re interested in.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Toys for Tots typically helps children age 12 and under. Sometimes the age limits vary by location.

HOW TO APPLY: Click the Request a Toy button on the Toys for Tots page to start your application.

Other Christmas Help

There are many more nationwide organizations that provide Christmas help in New Mexico, too! The providers in our nationwide directory often serve families in your area as well. They can provide free meals, free Christmas trees and so much more. Don’t forget to check this list of Christmas resources, too.

Get Christmas Help Near You

Depending on where you live, there may be even more Christmas help near you! We have found many local resources offering free Christmas gifts and food. There are organizations throughout the state just waiting to help you experience a joyful and merry Christmas.

Bernalillo County

Joy Junction in Albuquerque provides free Christmas help to low income families. They have a Christmas wish list program. Registered families receive several toys, books, and games for their children, food for a holiday dinner, clothing, and other small gifts that get delivered just before Christmas morning.

Curry County

Clovis Lighthouse Mission in Clovis provides free community meals and gently used clothing. It is not clear if they offer holiday assistance, but they can at least help you with holiday meals and warm winter gear.

Doña Ana County

Coats for Kids in Las Cruces is an annual event that provides thousands of new and gently used coats to children in the area. They sometimes distribute cash as well. Since 1995, they’ve distributed over 60,000 coats to children who need them!

Casa de Peregrinos in Las Cruces has many nutrition assistance programs that may be able to help you. They have food programs that benefit seniors, students, homeless residents and more.

Lincoln County

Angus Church of the Nazarene in Capitan provides an Angel Tree Christmas program through a partnership with Prison Fellowship.

Episcopal Church of the Holy Mount in Ruidoso provides community meals and Christmas toys during the holiday season. They also have a ministry called Joseph’s Workshop that provides furniture and household goods for families who need them.

McKinley County

The Community Pantry in Gallup provides food resources to families who are low income. If you need help with your holiday meal, they may be able to provide food.

San Juan County

Echo Food Bank in Farmington provides assistance to families in San Juan County. They can help you connect with food resources. They may also be able to help with rent, school supplies, school clothes, diaper kits, utility assistance, rent assistance and more. It is not clear if they specifically offer Christmas help.

Sandoval County

High Desert United Methodist Church in Rio Rancho provides a food bank that helps struggling families put food on the table. They may have additional ingredients during the holidays to help families put a holiday meal on the table.

St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho provides several services to help low-income families during their time of need. The pantry might offer food for families during the holiday season.

Storehouse Inc. in Rio Rancho created their food pantry to help put food on the table for low-income families in Sandoval County and the surrounding areas.

Santa Fe County

Kitchen Angels in Santa Fe brings free meals to homebound residents in Northern New Mexico. It is not clear if they have a holiday program, but this could be a way to get help with your holiday meal if you are unable to leave your home.

Taos County

St. James Episcopal Church in Taos provides Christmas help to around 300 families. They do this through an interfaith partnership with other churches and organizations in the area.

Taos Feeding Taos is a nonprofit that has been providing food to people in the community for more than 38 years. It is not clear if they have a holiday program but at the very least, they should be able to help you supplement your Christmas meal.

Relief Recap

There are many organizations that can provide free Christmas toys, holiday meals and other forms of Christmas help in New Mexico. If you’re looking for assistance near you, don’t forget to check out the providers on this list and follow the instructions to apply for help.

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.

E Delgado

Tuesday 20th of December 2022

I live in tularosa NM. Please help single mom with no help

Catherine Marucci

Friday 16th of December 2022

Hi Billie. Some of the programs mentioned above may still have room. It's worth trying.

Catherine Marucci

Tuesday 6th of December 2022

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

sharon martinez

Sunday 19th of December 2021

I'm in the middle of a nasty divorce after 31 years of marrage and I finally found the courage to get out after years of verbal and mental abuse. Instead of my family supporting me they turned on me because of one sister who had apparently had been gaslighting me for quite a while to my mom and other siblings, my daughter and the rest of my family. I had no idea until it was to late the damage had been done and I had no idea that I walked straght into hell. With Covid and everyone gaving to quarentine ladt winter, then my entire family alienated me as well along with no resources. Thats been my life and reality. My grown daughter like my extended family have been manipulated to believe my sisters lies it fuels their anger towards me and they encourage her to alienate me from my grandaughters.It has been the most difficult time in my entire life. I'm alone and thats how they hurt me. there is no truth to my sisters lies but it goes upon deaf ears because she set me up real good. its been devestating to say the least. Alone with no resoures is how she set this up and thats how its been for me. If possible, please consider helping me with gifts for my 3 granddaughters. i love and miss them so much that my heart hurts. i have never felt pain like this. i dont have money for gifts this year.