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How to Get FREE Christmas Help for Low Income Families in 2023

How to Get FREE Christmas Help for Low Income Families in 2023

Many organizations are offering free Christmas help for low income families this year! Whether you’re looking for free food, free holiday gifts, free Christmas trees or other holiday assistance, we’ve found resources that can help you!

I know firsthand what it’s like to stare down the holiday season with absolutely no idea how you make it special for your kids. Back in 2007, my husband had just recently been medically discharged from the Army. We were struggling to navigate his new disability and still make ends meet. We were living in low income housing and juggling bills, never able to pay everything. Christmas seemed like just too much to handle.

The generosity of strangers saved my baby’s second Christmas. The manager of our housing complex had referred us to a generous holiday assistance program that delivered a little wrapped shoebox full of gifts for my son. It was an absolute Christmas miracle!

I’ve never forgotten the way that felt.

If you’re more “stressed and depressed” than “merry and bright” this holiday season, you’re not alone. We’ve been there. You’re doing the best you can and there’s no reason to feel bad about it.

Now, let’s talk about all the organizations and agencies that can help you have a memorable holiday this year. Just remember that these organizations often receive more requests than they can fill, so it’s important to contact them as early in the season as possible.

free Christmas help

Free Christmas Gifts

Usually, when people ask me where to get free Christmas help for low income families, they’re asking about how to get free gifts for their kids. The good news is that we’ve found a bunch of resources – and some of them offer gifts for parents, grandparents, or even single seniors, too!

Please remember that these large nationwide organizations often operate a little differently at the local level. You’ll need to contact your local organization to verify details.

Here’s a quick list of the agencies that can provide free Christmas gifts for low income families:

  • Salvation Army
  • AmeriCorps Seniors
  • Catholic Charities
  • Operation Homefront
  • Santa’s Little Helpers
  • St. Vincent de Paul
  • Toys for Tots
  • Operation Santa

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army’s red kettle campaigns are an iconic part of the Christmas landscape across America. You’ve probably seen their volunteers ringing bells and soliciting donations at store entrances in your area.

Another well-known holiday program run by the Salvation Army is the Angel Tree program. This program is one of the best at providing Christmas help for low income families. It’s definitely one of my favorites!

Basically, each child can list a few gift wishes. The Salvation Army puts these wishes on tags in local stores, listing only the child’s age and requested gifts. Shoppers who choose to donate can pick up a tag and buy the gifts. They can drop the gifts in a donation bin on their way out of the store. The program then delivers the gifts to the families. It’s a great way to make sure every child has a present to open on Christmas.

In some areas, the Salvation Army offers an Adopt-a-Family program instead. This program is a little different, because it connects the entire family with a generous donor who can provide gifts, toys, food, cleaning supplies, clothing or other needs. Sometimes, the donors even provide gift cards!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Typically, the Salvation Army only provides Christmas assistance for children and seniors. Your household may need to meet certain income limits or other requirements.

HOW TO APPLY: If you would like to get Christmas help from the Salvation Army, the first thing you need to do is visit the Salvation Army Angel Tree website and complete the prequalification survey. This will help you figure out if you’re eligible and what you need to do to apply.

Please note that not every Salvation Army site uses that website to process applications. If your area is not served by that website, you can use the Salvation Army Locator Search tool to find the contact information for your local branch. You’ll need to contact them directly for information on how to apply.

AmeriCorps Seniors

AmeriCorps Seniors sometimes runs an Angel Tree program that can provide free Christmas gifts to seniors who register. This is a volunteer organization for adults age 55 and older who serve throughout the United States.

This service may not be available in all areas. However, we were able to confirm reports that the AmeriCorps Seniors of Mohave Valley has run a Senior Angel Tree program in the Kingman area for the last few years.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Seniors who live in an area served by a Senior Angel Tree may be eligible. You may need to meet age and income limits.

HOW TO APPLY: Find your local AmeriCorps Senior office by using the Contact page on their website. Contact them to find out if they offer a Senior Angel Tree in your area.

Be a Santa to a Senior

Be a Santa to a Senior is a holiday program that provides free holiday gifts for seniors. In the last 20 years, they have distributed over two million gifts to over 750,000 seniors around the country!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: This program exclusively serves seniors.

HOW TO APPLY: Search your zip code on the Be a Santa to a Senior website and contact the agency in your area for application instructions.

Catholic Charities

If you’re looking for free Christmas help for low income families, Catholic Charities is one of the most reliable places to turn for help. This nationwide faith-based organization offers holiday help programs in many different areas across the United States!

For example, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington helps sponsor The Christmas Bureau. This is an incredible program that provides grocery vouchers and gifts for children ages 17 and under. They serve families from 11 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

In Houston, Texas, the program works a little differently. The Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston provides up to three gifts per household for children who are age 16 or under. It’s a drive-through service and you have to request help from the Share Your Blessings Christmas Gift Campaign in advance.

Obviously, this program works differently depending on where you live. You can find the Catholic Charities office in your area using their Locator tool.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The details vary by location. Typically, these organizations only serve children but may include seniors or adults in certain areas.

HOW TO APPLY: Find your local Catholic Charities office in your area using their Locator tool. Contact them for application instructions.

Operation Holiday Joy

Operation Holiday Joy provides free Christmas gifts and food to junior enlisted members of the US military. This program has provided more than $1.3 million in assistance to qualifying families since 2004.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Families that include at least one junior enlisted military service member as a head of household may included.

HOW TO APPLY: Visit the Armed Services YMCA page to find a branch near you. Contact them for further instructions.

Operation Homefront

Eligible families may be able to receive free holiday gifts from Operation Homefront! Their annual toy drives are coordinated locally, so the organization encourages people who are interested to follow their Facebook page to learn more about when these events will occur.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: In order to be eligible for help from Operation Homefront, you must have actively served in the United States military after 9/11. You must either be deployed, disabled, wounded, ill or injured. There are other eligibility requirements listed on their website.

HOW TO APPLY: You will need to visit their website and click the “get help now” button. Alternatively, you can reach out to their organization directly.

Operation Once in a Lifetime

Operation Once in a Lifetime coordinates a free Christmas event called Toys for Troops. This program provides free gifts to military families. Veterans and active duty servicemembers may be eligible.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: You must be a military family, with at least one veteran or active duty servicemember in your household.

HOW TO APPLY: You need to email the correct program administrator for your area. You can find their contact information on the Operation Once in a Lifetime site.

Prison Fellowship Angel Tree

Prison Fellowship Angel Tree helps kids whose moms or dads are in prison. This program lets parents in jail give Christmas presents to their children. Volunteers help to buy and give these gifts to the kids.

The children get a gift and a message from their parent in prison. This helps kids feel close to their parents, even when they can’t be together. If you know a child with a parent in jail, you may be able to ask Angel Tree for help to make their Christmas special.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Children in the United States who have at least one incarcerated parent may be eligible.

HOW TO APPLY: To apply for Angel Tree, the parent in prison needs to ask their chaplain for an application. Applications are available starting in June and must be submitted by October 1st. The parent must be legally allowed to contact their child. If Angel Tree doesn’t have a program at their prison, someone can email [email protected] with the prisoner’s details to ask for an application.

Santa’s Little Helpers

Santa’s Little Helpers is a subreddit on Reddit with now over 37,000 members. This online community comes together every holiday season to give gifts to low-income families. It’s a place filled with holiday spirit where people help each other out.

Each child can request up to two gifts that cost less than $30. You can also request stocking stuffer items as long as they do not exceed a total of $15. All of the items must be organized into an Amazon Wishlist and each item must be marked Prime eligible.

Registration opens November 1. The first two weeks are for approvals, and then people can begin posting. It’s important to register early to maximize your chance of success.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: One account may register per household. Requests must be made by the head of household, adult parent or legal guardian on behalf of their immediate family. You cannot request gifts for pets. You can only request for three years in a row.

HOW TO APPLY: You must register on their website before you post a request. They will require proof of mailing address, and supporting documents for your reason for request. You can read all their rules here.

St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is another well-known nationwide organization that provides Christmas help for low income families. Just like the other large organizations we’ve discussed, their exact offerings vary by location.

For example, families in Phoenix can participate in an Adopt-a-Family program. This program connects families with sponsors who will make their holiday special. Sponsors are asked to provide a gift for each member of the household. Children under 16 are given both a toy and an item of clothing. Sponsors also provide grocery store gift cards to help with holiday meals.

On the other hand, the Boise location offers a Christmas Toy store. This program invites families to pick out gifts for their children age 18 and under from the store.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: You must be a low income person or family in order to receive Christmas assistance. Each society can set their own eligibility requirements. Many only serve families that include either children or the elderly.

HOW TO APPLY: Use the Local Assistance & Services Finder on the SSVP website to find your local organization. Contact them for more information about the application process and eligibility instructions.

Toys for Tots

Marine Toys for Tots is a popular Christmas assistance program that provides new unwrapped toys to low income children around the United States during the holiday season. Although this program operates nationwide, applications are processed through local organizations.

This program distributes almost 20 million toys per year. This is a huge impact! Their organization includes local campaigns in 800 communities across all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Toys for Tots typically serves children ages 12 and under with free gifts and toys. Your household may be required to meet income limits and other requirements as well.

HOW TO APPLY: In order to apply, you will need to register on the Marine Toys for Tots website. Follow the prompts on this page to connect with the local campaign in your area. You can also use their website to track the status of your application.

Operation Santa

Operation Santa has been helping families for 110 years! This program is organized by the United States Postal Service and relies on the kindness of strangers.

In order to receive help from this program, you must write a letter to Santa using the special address provided by USPS. The agency redacts any personal information and then uploads those letters to the internet. Generous people adopt letters and fulfill the requests, shipping gifts to the families who made the requests.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Anyone is eligible. It does not appear that there are any verification instructions. According to USPS, anyone can write a letter including adults and seniors!

HOW TO APPLY: Just write a letter to Santa! Talk about your year and make requests. Be specific! If you’re asking for clothes, include a size, style and color. If you’re asking for toys, games and books, include names and titles. Don’t forget to include your shipping address! You’ll need to send the letter to Santa Claus at 123 Elf Road North Pole 88888. Write your letters early for the best chance of success!

Other Organizations

There are other charities, churches and nonprofits that may also be able to provide Christmas help for low income families. We weren’t able to secure a lot of reliable information about these sources, so you will need to confirm the details with your local organization.

  • Assistance League
  • Lions Club International
  • Prison Fellowship
  • Rotary Club

You can also call 211 or browse our resource lists below for more ways that you can get Christmas help near you.

Free Christmas Trees

If you’re looking for a free Christmas tree, there are options to help make your holiday brighter. Organizations and programs sometimes offer free trees to families in need.

Some of the organizations that offer free Christmas trees include:

  • Christmas Tree Project
  • Christmas Tree Santas
  • Every Kid in a Park
  • Trees for Troops

Christmas Tree Project

The Christmas Tree Project provides free decorated Christmas trees throughout the world. If you need a holiday tree, you should start by requesting one on their website!

This project began when a couple offered one Christmas tree for free on Craigslist and received over 20 responses. Now, they serve people all over the world every year!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Anyone can apply for a tree. Make sure to explain the reason you’re asking so that your application stands apart!

HOW TO APPLY: You can apply for a free Christmas tree on The Christmas Tree Project’s website by clicking the “Request a Tree” button. Not everyone who requests a tree will get one.

Christmas Tree Santas

As a Home Depot partner, Christmas Tree Santas helps distribute free Christmas trees to families who cannot afford their own. You may be able to get a free Christmas tree from them if you live in Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Texas.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: In order to receive a free Christmas tree from this program, you must live in a participating state and get a referral from a partnered social service agency. Each agency can set their own eligibility criteria.

HOW TO APPLY: You can find a list of agencies that can give you a free Christmas tree voucher by visiting the Christmas Tree Santas website and choosing your state from the drop-down menu. Contact that agency to figure out what you need to do to get a referral.

Every Kid Outdoors

Every Kid Outdoors is a program that gives fourth graders a free National Parks pass. Kids who are eligible may also be able to get a free Christmas tree permit that can be used to find and cut down a suitable Christmas tree in a participating National Forest!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Fourth grade students in the United States are eligible for an Every Kid in a Park pass.

HOW TO APPLY: Visit the Every Kid Outdoors website and follow the instructions. You’ll need to visit the National Forest office for a participating forest in order to get your free permit. The fourth grader must be present to pick up the permit.

Trees for Troops

Trees for Troops provides free, farm-grown Christmas trees to United States military families in all branches of the military. The trees are delivered to 70 military bases in the United States and overseas!

In order to receive a tree from this organization, you’ll have to get your tree on base. Contact your base leadership to figure out if and when those trees will be delivered.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Military families may be able to get a free Christmas tree from Trees for Troops.

HOW TO APPLY: The free Christmas trees are delivered to the bases during the second week of December. Contact your base leaders for information about how to get a tree.

Free Christmas Food

Many organizations offer free holiday meals to families in need. Places like churches, food banks, and community centers often host dinners or give out meal kits. This makes sure everyone can enjoy a special holiday meal without worrying about the cost.

If you need help with holiday food, check these resources:

  • Food banks
  • Community meal sites
  • Salvation Army
  • Operation Homefront

Food Banks

Food banks are a go-to resource for free Christmas meals. They often offer special holiday food packages that include all the ingredients for a festive dinner.

To get a free Christmas meal, check with local food banks in advance. They may have sign-ups or special hours for holiday assistance. It’s a simple way to ensure your family can celebrate with a hearty meal, without stressing over expenses.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Each food banks sets their own rules but generally any low income member of the community is eligible for help.

HOW TO APPLY: Contact your local food bank. If you don’t know where it is, call 211 to find it.

Community Meal Sites

Community meal sites, often known as soup kitchens, are another great option for free Christmas meals. Many extend their services during the holidays to offer special dinners. These meals are usually open to anyone and provide a warm, communal setting to enjoy the holiday.

Some places may require you to sign up in advance, so it’s a good idea to check ahead of time. This makes it easy for you and your family to have a special meal without the added financial stress.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Usually anyone who is hungry can partake of a community meal.

HOW TO APPLY: To find a community meal site near you, look for local listings or ask around in your community.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army serves thousands of low income families with a free Christmas dinner every year through their various programs. They offer hot meals at various locations and may also offer grocery boxes to those who can cook meals at home.

Sometimes, their holiday meals offer additional services. For example, the Salvation Army Christmas Dinner in Metro Phoenix also includes additional services like free haircuts, beverages, games and gifts. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Christmas Family Feast serves more than 8,000 people!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Anyone who is hungry may be eligible to enjoy a free Christmas meal from The Salvation Army.

HOW TO APPLY: You will need to contact your local Salvation Army for information about their holiday meals in your area. They may require people to register in advance, so reach out right away!

Operation Homefront

Military and veteran families may be able to get a free holiday meal from Operation Homefront! This organization specializes in helping families who have a deployed, wounded or veteran family member. They distribute more than 500 free holiday meal kits every year!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Households may be eligible if at least one family member served in the military after 9/11 and is either deployed, wounded or a veteran.

HOW TO APPLY: Contact Operation Homefront. You usually have to create an account in order to get financial help from them, so you may want to create an account as well.

More Christmas Help for Low Income Families

Of course, the best resources we’ve found are the small organizations and Churches in local communities. There are hundreds of local agencies that offer Christmas help for low income families,, so we can’t possibly list them all in this one post.

That’s why we’ve broken this article into state and county resource guides – it’s just easier to use that way.

Please select your state from the list below to see what else we’ve found in your area:

gifts found from this Christmas assistance programs list

FAQs about Christmas Help

We’ve been reporting on how low income families can get Christmas help for many years, so naturally we’ve received a lot of questions about these programs. Here are the answers to the questions we are most frequently asked.

I missed the deadline! What can I do?

Every year, we hear from thousands of low income families who missed the deadline for the programs in their area. It’s heartbreaking when that happens and it’s a stark reminder that you need to plan ahead to get seasonal help like this.

If you need help but you’ve missed the deadline for programs in your area, consider these alternatives:

  • Buy Nothing can help you find free items in your area that your family might enjoy. I’ve seen people give away Christmas help in those groups, so it’s always wise to follow them closely.
  • Food Banks may be able to help you with food or referrals to other organizations in your area.
  • Libraries often have items you can check out, including drum sets and sewing machines. You would have to return those things eventually but they could help make your holiday a little more memorable.

What about Make-a-Wish?

Many readers wonder if Make-a-Wish offers Christmas help for low-income families. This is a rumor, and there’s no info on their website to back it up. Make-a-Wish focuses on giving special experiences to kids aged 2 1/2 to 18 who have critical illnesses, not general holiday help.

What about Operation Christmas Child?

Operation Christmas Child is a program that sends gifts in shoeboxes to children around the world. However, their website clearly states that these gifts are shipped to children outside of the United States. Since Low Income Relief focuses on helping families in America, we decided not to include this resource in our list.

What about My Two Front Teeth?

The website for My Two Front Teeth has not been updated in many years. We have reached out to the organization to confirm that they are still operational but we haven’t heard back, so we have decided to remove them from our list.

free Christmas gifts and food

Summary

If you’re worried about affording the holidays, there are resources available for free Christmas help. From agencies that give gifts to kids, to places that offer free Christmas trees and meals, help is out there. Follow the guidelines, register early, and check local listings to make sure you don’t miss out. Whether you’re looking for a tree, gifts, or a festive meal, there’s a way to make the season bright without breaking the bank.

Nicole is the owner and lead researcher for Low Income Relief. She has over 20 years of professional research and writing experience, and she has been solely dedicated to investigating low income topics for the last 10 years. Nicole started Low Income Relief after a personal experience with poverty. When her husband was medically discharged from the US Army, their family experienced tremendous financial hardship. Nicole was able to gather help from multiple community agencies and move into a nearby low income housing unit in just two weeks! Since then, Nicole has been dedicated to helping low income families in crisis. She regularly spends hundreds of hours combing through countless resources to make sure that Low Income Relief has the most comprehensive and complete resource directories on the internet today. Prior to starting Low Income Relief, Nicole worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. Her work has also been featured by Google for Publishers and other leading industry publications.

John

Sunday 24th of December 2023

I cant find help with anything i have 5 kids both parents are working we are homeless in reno.. we have a room tonight but we have no food and will have verry little in the morning..

Bunny Bailey

Saturday 16th of December 2023

I'm a single mother that doesn't get child support. I need help getting Christmas gifts for my son.He is 14 years old.

Ladonna Ellington

Sunday 26th of November 2023

Hi, my name is Ladonna Ellington… I have moved me and my kids and my husband to Atlanta and we didn’t like it so we came back so now we don’t have a place to stay. We live my mom and sometimes get hectic cause I want place for my kids. and I’ve been looking for help with getting my kids a good Christmas and money to pay bills. Can u help me

Catherine Marucci

Sunday 26th of November 2023

Hi. For bills, this is a good place to start your search: https://lowincomerelief.com/help For Christmas, if the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything.

rick

Thursday 22nd of December 2022

trying to get a wheeled adult walker. i have a wheelchair bed and potty. physical therapist says i need one to continue movement. medicare said no because i have the wheelchair.

Catherine Marucci

Thursday 22nd of December 2022

Hi Rick. One of these resources may be an option: https://lowincomerelief.com/free-used-medical-equipment/

Tanya Vancleave

Monday 19th of December 2022

Hello my name is Tanya and I’m a single mother of 3 children of my own and one that I have raised her whole life. I know this is extremely late but I have a son that had an accident a year and a half ago and he is now paralyzed from neck down. I was working 3 jobs to care for my kids and had to stop working to care for my son when he was paralyzed. I just got a job on Monday and thought I would get a check before Christmas but unfortunately found out today that my first paycheck would not come out until December 30. My electricity got cut off about a week ago and I borrowed money to get it turned back on and so now I’m really in a place where I don’t know what to do. I’ve been praying about it and all I know to do is ask as much as I hate to. I have no money for Christmas lunch for my children, nor do I have the money to buy them a single present. I’m so sorry that I’m asking so late, but I really don’t know what else to do,. Thank you and God bless!!!

Catherine Marucci

Tuesday 20th of December 2022

Hi Tanya. It sounds like you've had a tough year. You can try contacting 211 to see if they know of any organizations in your local area that still have room on a Christmas list.