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Get FREE Christmas Gifts & Food in Kentucky!

Get FREE Christmas Gifts & Food in Kentucky!

Need free Christmas gifts or other holiday help in Kentucky? Our team knows 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!

Get Free Christmas Gifts in Kentucky

There are many organizations that provide free Christmas gifts, including free toys, to people in Kentucky! Many of these are well-known agencies that serve other states as well.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army Angel Tree program is one of the best-known ways to get free Christmas gifts in Kentucky during the holidays. They start gathering names early in the season so that they can match eligible children and sometimes seniors in need with donors who will purchase gifts for them.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The Salvation Army typically serves children from low income families. In some areas, they may serve seniors as well.

HOW TO GET HELP: In order to get help, you will need to register with the Salvation Army. You can often do this online using the Angel Tree website, but some branches may require you to contact them directly in order to apply.

Toys for Tots

The Toys for Tots program is a well-known holiday campaign by the Marine Corps Reserve. This organization gathers free Christmas gifts from donors and distributes them to low income children who wouldn’t otherwise get any gifts this year.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Toys for Tots typically serves children who are 12 years old or younger. You may also need to meet income guidelines in order to apply. You also have to live in a covered county. There are 41 counties in Kentucky that are not currently covered by Toys for Tots, unfortunately.

HOW TO GET HELP: Go to the Toys for Tots website and click the Request a Toy button. You will need to select your state and county in order to start the application process.

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP)

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) invites families to take part in their Christmas Baskets program. Hundreds of toys are sent to countries in Kentucky, including Perry County.

In the weeks before the holiday, families are invited to gather for a Christmas celebration. Here, among the music, prayers, Bible story retellings, and fun, gifts are handed out to families in need. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Low income families in Appalachia may be able to receive free Christmas gifts from the Christian Appalachian Project.

HOW TO GET HELP: Please contact this organization directly for application instructions.

Grandma’s Gifts

Grandma’s Gifts in Covington provides free Christmas toys to families in northern and central Appalachia. They dot his through their Secret Santa program.

Families who participate can receive free coats, clothing, shoes, and gifts. The gifts may include free toys, puzzles, educational games, books and more.

This organization serves families who live in northern or central Appalachia. The list of counties they serve includes: Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Green, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe Counties.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Families that live in one of the northern or central Appalachia counties listed above may be eligible for assistance. Any family that receives help from Grandma’s Gifts cannot receive help from another area organization. You must also be identified as a family in need.

HOW TO GET HELP: You can fill out the Receiving Assistance Inquiry Form on the Grandma’s Gifts website.

Mission of Hope

Mission of Hope, a charitable organization, focuses on supporting low-income families in rural Appalachia. Their annual Cyber Barrel Christmas Drive is an initiative that brings joy to families each year.

The program’s goal is to supply new coats, clothes, and complimentary toys for children registered from PreK through 8th Grade. It is recommended that each gift be valued at approximately $15.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Families in rural Appalachia who have children that attend PreK – 8th Grade at a local school may be eligible for free Christmas gifts.

HOW TO APPLY: The organization does not share application instructions publicly. I recommend contacting them directly or asking the school social worker at your child’s school for more information.

Other Christmas Help

There are other nationwide charities that may offer Christmas help near you! These include organizations that give away free Christmas trees, provide hot holiday meals, and even distribute free toys. Don’t forget to check out our Nationwide Christmas Resource Directory for more ways that you can get help this holiday season!

Local Christmas Help in Kentucky

There are many people and organizations working to provide free Christmas gifts in Kentucky. These agencies operate on a local level and can only be found by investigating what exists in your local community. We’re doing that research for you, one county at a time!

Fayette County

Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington, hosts an annual Christmas Store for low-income families who struggle during the holidays. Families may be able to receive winter clothing, disposable diapers, toys, games, puzzles, linens, small appliances and more through the Christmas Project program.

God’s Food Pantry in Lexington offers a monthly food distribution to low income families in the area. They deliver food using a refrigerated delivery truck and distribute the food at 14 different locations. Families may be able to get free Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets of food during the holidays.

Lexington Fraternal Order of Firefighters in Lexington, hosts their annual Firefighters Toy Fund to collect toys for children of low income families that struggle during the holidays. Registered families receive several new, unopened toys for each of their children, donated by community members and organizations. Families must register for the program.

Harlan County

Harlan County Angel Tree in Harlan offers Christmas toys and clothes to Harlan County children of families in need. Kids are encouraged to write a wish list that people can buy from. Generous companies, organizations, and individuals can adopt a child, siblings, and whole families and get them presents during the holiday season. This service is coordinated by a partnership between the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army.

Harlan County Kentucky’s Mountain Santa in Wallins collects and distributes toys to Harlan County, KY children in need during the Christmas season. Toys, clothes, candy, and other treats are given out every year with the help of generous donors and volunteers. This service also helps seniors and local inmates during other seasons of the year.

Harlan County Celebrates Christmas in Putney provides a free light display that is open to the public. Each light display is sponsored by a business or individual. Free hot chocolate and candy canes are distributed to visitors during their annual event.

Kenton County

Whether you’re located in Mitchell, Covington, Newport or elsewhere in the county, these agencies should be able to help you make the most of your holiday season!

Be Concerned in Covington invites low-income families to their Christmas Store during their time of struggle. At the Christmas store, families pick out toys for each of their children at no charge. Additionally, families may pick out warm hats, gloves, coats, socks, and other small gifts for their family members. This organization also offers a food bank and can sometimes offer thrift store vouchers.

Brighton Center in Newport hosts a yearly toy drive to collect toys for low income children living in Kenton County. Once toys get collected, registered families get invited to their distribution event to pick up a satchel of toys for each of their children. It is likely that you already need to be registered and receiving other services from Brighton Center in order to get these toys.

St. Vincent De Paul Society in Covington invites underprivileged families in Kenton County to apply for their Adopt-A-Family program. This program connects those in need with sponsors who buy the family Christmas gifts such as toys, clothing, household goods, food, gift certificates, and other small gifts. They have other programs that can provide a holiday meal as well.

Parish Kitchen in Covington offers help for low income families, seniors, homeless, and veterans to their kitchen a free lunch-time meal. These freshly prepared meals are available to anyone in need without any questions asked.

Logan County

Logan County Schools offer Christmas help every year with their Christmas Assistance Program. The Family Resources Youth Services Center (FRYSC) works with Logan County schools to make Christmas special for every qualifying school-aged child. Eligible children from Preschool to High School can participate in the program. 

Each school sends home a registration form to sign and return to the school by the deadline. The deadline for the 2022 Christmas season is November 4th. The form will look like this one posted on the Lewisburg KY FRYSC Facebook page

Concerned Citizens of Logan County in Russellville offers assistance for struggling Logan County families in need during the Christmas holiday. They have a program that can help parents provide toys for their kids. You can follow their Facebook page to stay up to date about all the programs they have to offer. 

Perry County

If you live in Hazard, Daisy, Cornettsville, Jeff, Vicco, or the surrounding areas of Perry County, we’ve found resources that can help your family with free Christmas gifts and food this holiday season!

Join Hands Ministry Christmas Program offers Perry County children Christmas gifts if they are between the ages of 6 months and 14 years old. Supported by local businesses, organizations, churches, and generous individual donors, this program helps hundreds of children every year.

Perry County’s Christmas in a Small Town is a Christmas festival and a series of events put on by Perry County to spread Christmas cheer and provide a memorable Christmas for local families. The series of events starts in the second week of December and includes Ice skating and a lighted Christmas Parade. Children aged 13 years old and younger also get one present to take back home. This is a 3-day event starting on Thursday and ending on Saturday (December 8-10, 2022). Children receive presents on Friday and the parade is on Saturday. 

Wayne County

Whether you live in Monticello, Parmleysville or the surrounding area, we’ve found resources that can help your family with free Christmas gifts and food this holiday season!

Wayne County Children Services helps families who have children that are already receiving assistance from their organization. This program matches the children with a sponsor who can donate gifts. Sponsors are asked to spend between $100 and $150 per child. In order to be eligible, your family must have a financial need or hardship and already be receiving services from WCCS.

Relief Recap

We are constantly looking for new resources that can make your holidays merry and bright. If we find something in the course of our research, we will update this article accordingly. In the meantime, feel free to leave us a comment and let us know if you don’t see your city or county listed here.

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.

Perez Collins

Thursday 7th of December 2023

Can we get more things for Louisville and Jefferson County in Kentucky

Catherine Marucci

Monday 4th of December 2023

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

Melissa

Sunday 4th of December 2022

Is help available in Davis co

Catherine Marucci

Tuesday 6th of December 2022

Hi Melissa. 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.

Melissa

Sunday 4th of December 2022

Davis co ?