If you’re looking for Christmas help in Idaho, you’re not alone. There are programs across the state dedicated to providing assistance to families in need during the holiday season.
Free Christmas Help in Idaho
In Idaho, families looking for a little extra help during the holidays can find several places offering free Christmas assistance.
Christmas Bureau
Every year, the Christmas Bureau in Spokane provides free Christmas gifts and free grocery vouchers to low income families in five North Idaho counties: Benewah, Bonner, Kootenai, Latah and Shoshone!
This organization provides a free grocery voucher for each family, as well as gifts for children age 17 and under. Each child receives one gift, and each child age 15 and under also receives a free book. This program has been running for more than 70 years!
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Low income children under age 18 who live in either Benewah, Bonner, Kootenai, Latah and Shoshone counties are eligible.
HOW TO APPLY: There is no pre-registration required for families with children. You just need to visit the Spokane Fair & Expo Center on any of this year’s distribution dates to pick up your grocery voucher and toys.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army helps families in Idaho during Christmas. They have a program called the Angel Tree. People can pick a child’s name and buy them a Christmas present. The Salvation Army also gives out food so families can enjoy a Christmas meal.
They help in other ways, too. They give out warm clothes and blankets for the cold weather. Sometimes, they can even help pay for heating so your home stays warm.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Typically, the Salvation Army will provide a meal to anyone who needs one. However, free Christmas gifts are often limited to children of a certain age.
HOW TO APPLY: You will need to contact your local Salvation Army chapter for assistance. You can find yours using the Location Search on the Salvation Army website.
St. Vincent de Paul
Many local Catholic churches partner with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SvDP) to provide Christmas help to families in Idaho. They often give out food so you can have a nice Christmas dinner. They sometimes give free toys for children or seniors, too.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Low income people, especially those with children, may be eligible. Seniors may be eligible in some areas.
HOW TO APPLY: Contact your local SvDP location to apply. You can find the one nearest you using the directory on their website.
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program in Idaho that gives new toys to children for Christmas. It is run by the U.S. Marine Corps. They collect toys from people who want to help. Then, they give these toys to families who can’t buy enough gifts for their kids.
Toys for Tots appears to be eligible in most areas of Idaho. According to their website, only the following counties are NOT covered by this program: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Custer, Oneida and Valley.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Low income families with children may be eligible. Children typically have to be under 13 years old, although sometimes the age limit varies.
HOW TO APPLY: You can request a toy online by filling out the registration forms on the official Toys for Tots website.
Other Christmas Help
There are other Christmas assistance programs around the country that also help families in Idaho. However, we don’t want to repeat everything here so make sure you check out our Nationwide Christmas Resource Directory as well!
Free Local Christmas Help
Right in your Idaho neighborhood, there are groups ready to help with Christmas. Local charities and churches give out toys and food. They want to make sure everyone gets to celebrate. You can ask at places like community centers or churches to get this help. They are there to help you have a good Christmas.
Bonner County
Memorial Community Center in Hope provides a Christmas Giving Program. This program provides free Christmas gifts and toys to low income families in the area. It is offered in coordination with the Clark Fork Hope Food Bank.
Gem County
Emmett Valley Friendship Coalition in Emmett organizes an annual Cheer Basket program. This program provides food and gifts for the holiday season, but you have to apply before the deadline.
Twin Falls County
Twin Falls Reformed Church provides free Christmas help for low income families in the area. They provide gifts for children as well as food for the family. You will be asked to provide information about income and other resources.
Summary
In Idaho, there’s help for families needing a little extra during Christmas. From the toy giveaways by Toys for Tots to the warm meals provided by The Salvation Army, we’ve found several places you can turn for help. Local groups also offer assistance with food and gifts. To get help, reach out to these organizations—they’re ready to make your holiday season a bit brighter.
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.