Get FREE Christmas Toys & Food in Alabama!

If you’re looking for free Christmas help in Alabama, you’re not alone! The good news is that we’ve found so many different agencies that provide free Christmas gifts, free holiday meals and so much more!

At Low Income Relief, we understand 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.

We are committed to helping low income families across the United States get the help they need to enjoy their holidays. That’s why we’re constantly looking for more ways that you can get holiday help!

Free Christmas Gifts in Alabama

No matter where you’re located in this state, there are some agencies that can help you. These agencies may have local branches but they are present throughout the state.

Church of the Highlands

Church of the Highlands coordinates an incredible event called Giving Hope Christmas Experience every year. This event is life-changing for the families that participate!

Families that register in advance are invited to a shopping experience at the mall in mid-December. Each parent gets paired with a sponsor. The parents get to get to pick out gifts for their children for free. After the sponsor pays, the ministry team wraps the gifts and prays with each family.

In 2023, this event will take place on December 9th. You need to register before November 26th! Email [email protected] to be connected to your nearest campus.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army offers many different programs that support low income families in Alabama during the holidays. The most popular program they offer is the Angel Tree program.

When you register for this program, you’ll list your child’s age and preferred gifts. The Salvation Army will turn that request into a tag that can hang on a tree inside a nearby store. Shoppers can pick up the tag, fill the request and leave the gifts in a donation bin. The Salvation Army will gather those donations and deliver them to your family for the holidays.

Use the Salvation Army location tool to find your nearest chapter. Don’t delay – some of these programs start registering families as early as October!

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a popular program in Alabama that aims to provide free Christmas toys to children in low-income families. Operated by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, this program has various drop-off locations and events across the state. Families can register to receive toys, and generous individuals can donate new, unwrapped gifts to support the cause.

Registration usually starts in the fall and toy distribution happens in December. It’s a reliable way to ensure that your kids have gifts to open on Christmas morning.

The Toys for Tots program covers most of the state. The only counties that are not covered by this program are Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Perry, Pike, Tallapoosa and Washington Counties.

To apply, you just need to visit the Toys for Tots website and select your area from the drop-down menu. Follow the prompts to complete your request.

Other Nationwide Organizations

Alabama is fortunate to have the presence of numerous nationwide organizations that offer holiday assistance. For example, “Be a Santa to a Senior” and SSVDP.

We can’t repeat them all here, so make sure you check out our list of nationwide holiday resources for additional ways that you can get free Christmas help in Alabama!

Local Christmas Help in Alabama

In Alabama, numerous local charities step forward during the festive season to spread cheer. We’ve done our best to find every agency that can help you with the holidays this season. Everything in this list has been fact-checked and verified!

Cleburne County

Hearts of Cleburne has locations in Ranburne and Heflin. This organization offers a Christmas Clearing House, which coordinates sponsorships for low income families. Families that register can be matched with donors who can help provide gifts for school age children. Registration opens November 1!

Etowah County

Etowah Baptist Missions Center in Gadsden provides free food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The baskets include turkey or ham, veggies, mac and cheese, dressing, cake mix and more. They also have a toy store that serves children age 18 and under.

Jackson County

Jackson County Christmas Charities has an “Adopt-A-Family” program. It matches families in Jackson County needing help with sponsors. These sponsors give clothes, toys, food, and more for Christmas. To get help, families must have a child age 17 or under, meet income limits and complete an application.

The Well Family Worship Center offers low-income families, seniors, working poor, and veterans help with food through their Twelve Bushels food pantry. You may be able to get help with food during Christmas and Thanksgiving from this organization.

Jefferson County

The Ministry Center at Green Springs in Birmingham helps children who are being raised by their grandparents. Children who are age 10 and under may be eligible to receive a toy from this organization. They also provide help with holiday meals.

Mission Of Hope in Dora offers Christmas help for low income families who live in Adamsville or Graysville. For more information about what they do, check their full listing under ‘Walker County’ below.

Madison County

Christmas Charities Year Round in Huntsville provides Operation Believe, a program that provides gifts to children and seniors. Gifts are only provided to Madison County residents who are between the ages of 2-18 or over age 60. Applications open in early September and usually close sometime in November, so apply early!

Mobile County

First Baptist Tillman’s Corner in Mobile offers a Christmas Store. The applications for this program begin in October, so make sure to apply early! You may also be able to get help with food, clothing and hygiene items from this organization as well.

Morgan County

Neighborhood Christian Center in Decatur invites parents to choose toys for their children from the Christmas Toy Store. Children up to age 18 can receive assistance. The store opens in December but you may need to register in advance.

Shelby County

Shelby Emergency Assistance in Montevallo provides Christmas assistance for families who might not otherwise have any holiday gifts. They also offer help with school supplies, smoke alarms, GED courses and ESL courses!

Tuscaloosa County

Catholic Social Services of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa provides assistance with food, clothing, financial assistance and more. If you need help with your Christmas meal, they may be able to help. It is not clear if they offer any gifts.

Walker County

Mission Of Hope in Dora offers Christmas help for low income families who live in Walker County. They serve children up to age 15 with free toys, coats and shoes. They also provide books for children up to age 12. You need to be pre-qualified to get help, so contact the agency right away to start the process.

Sixth Avenue Church of Christ in Jasper may be able to help with holiday food or gifts through their Benevolence Center. They provide help with clothing, home good sand everyday necessities through that ministry.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Jasper is the largest food bank in Walker County. Their weekly food bank can provide you with produce, frozen meat, snacks and more. They also provide free Christmas meals and toys to children in their service area.

Summary

There are many ways that you can get free Christmas gifts, food and more in the state of Alabama! Whether you live in Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Birmingham, or a more rural area, there are options available that can help you with your needs. Don’t forget to check out our other posts for more ways you can save money and get free stuff!

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.