In most communities there are organizations that can help you give your kids what they need for the holidays. This guide is about Christmas charities for children.
I am searching for children's X-mas giveaways for a single, pregnant mom with two children. She has extensive medical issues and is not able to work and lives with her mom who lives in Section 8 housing. The household is really struggling, I don't want the children to go without X-mas. The father is incarcerated.
By Diana
By thriftyvicki11/09/2011Toys for Tots. Salvation Army. Local churches. Most every town has some sort of Santa - toy giveaway program. Call the local newspaper and ask what it is called and how to contact them.
I'm out of work. I was let go after 9 years of work. I am looking for help for my kids for Christmas. Any suggestions?
By Crystal
By knitter92611/15/2011Call 211, that is a nationwide help number. Whoever answers will get you in the right direction for help.
This year seems to be my hardest. I have no job and am going to school full time. I live with my 9 month old grandbaby and my 8 year old son. I have no money, every little bit I do get has to go towards keeping house and home. We have what we have. We have love in our hearts because we are family, but help for Christmas would be appreciated. I hope old St. Nick is out with an open ear and heart to want to stop by our house, because God knows we have struggled this year and still managed to make it to this Christmas. Does anyone know where I can get Christmas help?
By M.King
By redhatterb12/05/2011I know a lot of single parents that have went to school full time and worked at least part time and some that also worked full time. It's getting a little late to be asking charities for help, they do have deadlines so that they know how to budget for everybody needing help. When you do go to them most of them want an application filled out and they also want to know your gross income.
I assume you get food stamps, so food shouldn't be a problem. Don't worry about if the baby gets anything or not, kids that young don't know if they get anything.
As far as your son goes, you could hide a couple of his favorite toys and refurbish them(with paint or whatever) for Christmas. Shop at a dollar store and buy a coloring book and box of crayons, they can be wrapped as two separate gifts. Call the Salvation Army and see if you can still apply for help.
Also speak to your pastor, sometimes a church will take up a special "love" offering for a needy member of the congregation. There were times over the years that I would have had to seek help for Christmas, if I hadn't planned ahead and started shopping in January. No kid needs more than one gift from their parents. Also doesn't your son have grandparents, aunts, and uncles that send gifts?
I am a single mother of 2; where do I have to go to get help with Christmas presents for my children?
By Samantha
By redhatterb11/29/2011Being a single mother doesn't necessarily qualify you for Christmas help. All of the places that I know of require people to fill out an application and want to know your income. Most of these places also have an age cut off limit of 12 years.
Number 1, the kids Dad should be giving them each a gift, plus there should be two sets of grandparents and some aunts and uncles. Most places that provide help for Christmas have already passed the deadline for taking applications.
Number 2, Speak to the pastor of your church. Sometimes they will take a special offering for a needy member of their congregation. However, they won't keep doing it for the same family over and over.
Number 3, plan ahead, start shopping in January. There have been several times over the years that I would have needed Christmas help, if I hadn't planned ahead. I start shopping in January and have been done for more than a month, and have everything wrapped and under the tree.
Number 4, no kid needs more than one gift each from their parents and they definitely don't need what they see on TV and they don't need designer labels. The name of the game is plan ahead.
I am a disabled single father with a low income of less then $405.00 a month, not leaving me with anything for Christmas for an 8 year old girl. Where can I get some help for Christmas? Thanks.
By Earl F.
By cheychey12/09/2011I'm so sorry to hear that! :( Sir I know I may only be 15 I work in a lot of charities, and I know with the economy today its hard to buy a lot of things especially with that income.
Listen my advice for you is, a lot of the people I help out have put a certain budget away for their Christmas shopping, then they go out and find the best sales out there, they keep within whatever their budget is, and their kids are happy. You also got to teach your daughter that its not all about getting gifts. Christmas is about giving, sharing, etc. I hope you do well this Christmas. Merry Christmas!
I need help for Christmas. I don't have money for a tree or gifts for my for children.
By Christina
By redhatterb11/10/2011First of all you absolutely don't need a tree, or you could do like my late mother did one year, when she saw the idea in a magazine. She took an empty coffee container and painted it white, then she filled it with sand (I imagine dirt would work too).
Then she went out in the yard and looked for a fair sized branch, when she found what she wanted laying on the ground, she spray painted it white and when dry stuck it in the can. She then decorated it with our regular decorations. She received a lot of compliments from various visitors because of her originality. You could make paper chains and cut out paper snow flakes for decorations.
For help with gifts (by now it might be getting too late, to apply for help). Call 211, that is the number for a nationwide organization called HelpLine! They keep a list of different organizations that provide various help for people.
You can also call the Salvation Army, I would recommend speaking to your pastor, sometimes if a pastor knows somebody in the congregation is real hard up, he will call for a special offering to be given to a member that needs help.
If you can't find any help, you should be able to afford to to a thrift store and spend $1.00-$2.00 for a little gift for each kid. Also if you are so hard up you must have a social worker, either from housing assistance or food stamps and they might be able to point you to organizations that can help.
From the day my kids were born to the current day (they are in their 40s) we have never given them more than one gift each. They had two sets of grand parents and a few aunts and uncles that always sent gifts. I'm sure you must have some of these relatives too. People now seem to think kids need tons of gifts in order to be happy.
Now might be a good time to explain what Christmas is. You could do this my baking and frosting a cake and spell out the words "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus" on it. Tell the kids that is how you are celebrating Christmas this year.
However, we all know Christmas comes every year and could plan ahead. I start shopping in January and have been done for at least a month. I spend $20.00 each on each of my kids and four grandkids that range in age from15-25. If I find a $20.00 item on sale for $10-15.00, it still gets counted as a $20.00 item. All it takes is a little planning. I would never be able to buy gifts for my whole family if I didn't start my shopping in January.
I am looking for help for my one child. He is five years old this year. I moved up here because my son's great grandma was every sick. She died this September 23rd.
We been jumping house to house since we have been here. I do not have a job. I have been looking but, not having the luck of getting one. My son's birthday was November 22nd, on Thanksgiving, but it was not so giving for him. So he did not get a birthday this year and I am hoping I do not have to tell him Santa is not coming too. I know it going to break his heart to tell him. So I am asking for places where I can get help this year. Thank you.
By sherryann
By redhatterb12/13/2012The charities that I am aware of have a cut off date for applications of right around Thanksgiving time. If you go to church speak to your pastor, sometimes they will take up a special anonymous offering for a member of the congregation. Aren't there any grandparents, aunts, and uncles that would be sending gifts? Also you could pick out one or two of his favorite toys and hide them, then after he is in bed, figure out some way to refurbish them.
My elderly aunt was recently telling me about when she was a child, her favorite doll disappeared, nobody in the family could tell her where it was. Her mother had hid it and while my aunt was at school and in bed, my grandma got busy and made a new wardrobe for the doll and also finished a cardboard box to look like a suitcase.
When the family got home from Christmas eve services, the doll was sitting on top of the piano with the suitcase and a little note saying she had just got back from a shopping trip in New York. My aunt is 86 and still remembers that as her most memorable Christmas.
You must have some cash, to be paying for going from house to house, you should be able to squeeze a little out to go to a thrift store and buy some little toy, sometimes a person can get some nearly new things really cheap. Also if you have a pretty towel in good condition make some kind of a stuffed animal out of it. I did that one year when we were really hard up. I took an old extra bed pillow apart to use the stuffing.
I am a single mother of six wonderful children. They are 11, 7, 3, 1, and twins that are 4 months old. I was enrolled in school, but I had to take off because I was put on bed rest for two weeks. Then I went into premature labour two months early so my twins had to stay in the hospital for awhile. Then I just had a full hysterectomy on November due to having cancer.
I don't really have any help with Christmas for my children. I'm literately heart broken I don't know what to do. Please if anyone knows of some help please let me know. Thank you and God bless!
By Jessica C
By jojo0112/07/2011I would post this on Reddit. I know the community there is awesome. You may also want to talk to the social worker, school psychologist, or school counselor at your children's school. These people are typically familiar with local community resources that can assist with families in need.
I'm a single mother, my unemployment ran out and I can't find a job. I would like to know if there are any charities or organizations that could please help me provide a Christmas for my children, including food and gifts.
By JH
By redhatterb11/19/2011If you are unemployed you should be on food stamps so you shouldn't have to worry about food. There were times when I was kid that we had meat loaf, baked potatoes, and a veggie for Christmas dinner, because that is what we could afford.
There were times when my kids were small and there was just our family of four that I served a turkey roast because it was more appropriate for the size of our family and cheaper than a full turkey.
Being you are a single mother, you should be receiving child support, and if you have no cash income at all there are more important things you should be worried about other than Christmas. The thing to do when you are low income, is to plan ahead.
I start my shopping in January, for my adult kids and four grandkids that range in age from 15-25. I spend $20.00 on each of them. None of them got any of the expensive toys that are advertised on TV and none of them have ever received anything with a designer name on it.
All any kid needs is one gift each, from their parents. Your kids must have grandparents and aunts and uncles must give them gifts. Also I would assume their Dad gives them gifts. My jerk of an "ex" who is also Mr. Tightwad, gives our adult kids money for their birthdays and Christmas.
As far as jobs go the fast food places are always hiring, all an applicant has to do is be willing to work there. When I was 67 I worked for two years in a fast food place, and I had never done that before in my life. It wasn't easy because of some of my health problems, but I enjoyed meeting different people.
For help there is HELPLINE!, a national clearing house for organizations in different areas that provide different types of help. Also you can call the Salvation Army they are good about helping people.
However, you should also speak to the pastor of your church, sometimes they will take up a special offering for a needy family in their church. Where I live most of the places that provide Christmas help have passed their deadlines for taking applications. They also want to know your gross income. A lot of them also have an age limit of 12 years for gifts.
How can I receive second hand clothes and shoes for all ages? I would like to share with our church members that are less privileged for this Xmas season. I would appreciate it if anyone can help in Zimbabwe.
By Amina from Harare
I was wondering if there was any place that would help with Christmas gifts for this woman. She has a very large family, but is always alone on Christmas and other holidays. She receives no presents and has no extra money; she lives on SSI. I would just like to see her smile this Christmas. Can you help with suggestions?
By Cindy N.
I have a 17 year old daughter who was placed in my emergency custody this last July after her father abused her. I moved and relocated and have given her a home and parent (myself), and have found a part time job. But, I have absolutely no money for Christmas this year. Are there any charities that can help me with a gift for her Christmas? Any help I receive will be greatly appreciated.
By Jennifer D.
By redhatterb12/11/2012The charities that I know of have a cut off date of just before Thanksgiving, and also a cut off age of 12 years. If you attend a church fairly often, speak to your pastor. A lot of times a pastor will take a special, anonymous offering for a needy member of the congregation. She wouldn't need to have an expensive gift, thrift stores have a good selection of gently used and sometimes new items with the tags still on them, for a reasonable price. WalMart has decent t-shirts and CDs for no more than $10.00. She doesn't need designer items and she doesn't need high end electronics. Also does she have grandparents and aunts and uncles that will be sending her gifts. Another thought is that some dollar stores have a fair selection of make up, body wash and body lotion. You should be able to squeeze a little out of your budget.
I need help with Christmas. I have 3 kids and no job and no money. Can anyone please tell me where I can find help? God bless you.
By Keisha from Rome
By Anonymous12/06/2010Your local Catholic Family Services! If you mean Rome, Italy check out this link for referrals for help: http://www.catholiccharitiescamden. ... ontent&view=article&catid=98:service-a-advocacy-latest-news&id=415:catholic-relief-services-offers-assistance-to-italys-earthquake-victims-donations-collected-on-behalf-of-caritas-italiana
I became disabled the April before last and called them to see if there were any volunteers in my area to help me clean my apartment. Not only have I a wonderful volunteer that comes and helps me clean since then, but also last Christmas I received a phone call from another volunteer asking what I could use and really wanted for Christmas. I told them a pair of slippers and a new toy for my Rachel kitty. They showed up about three days before Christmas with three boxes of food, the slippers, a winter hat, a fleece throw blanket, a handmade shawl, extra toys and treats and food for Rachel and more! I was weeping like a baby! They are a wonderful organization and the volunteer who helps me clean is now also a friend!
I need help getting my children Christmas presents.
By Misti
By redhatterb12/05/2012I have a hunch you are quite late to apply. Most of the charities have a cut off date of around Thanksgiving time. However, no kid needs to get more than one gift. You should be able to find some things at some of the dollar stores. Thrift stores also have lots of gently used items and some of them are even completely new.
Kids also don't need designer labels or electronic things. For small kids you can even get by with a color book and crayons, there again the crayons don't have to be a major brand. At discount stores you can get decent t-shirts for all ages for less than $10.00 each.
Another idea for other years is to start shopping right after Christmas. Set a price limit and don't go over it, if you find an item that will work for a sale price, get it and count it at the price limit. I buy one item a month and have been done with my shopping for at least four months. Everything is wrapped and under the tree, with a couple packages ready to be shipped.
I live off $700 a month retirement social security and spend $40.00 a month on each of my two daughters and $20.00 each on my four grandchildren. Then I also buy for my two sisters, and an elderly aunt and a cousin. If I find a $40.00 item on sale for $30.00 I get it and it is counted at $40.00.
Also don't your kids get gifts from grandparents, aunts and uncles. There must be some relatives that will be sending gifts. Another thought would be to speak with your pastor, if you attend church on a fairly regular basis, sometimes a pastor will take up a special, confidential offering for a needy family in the congregation.
My name is Sharon and I am contacting you in hopes that you knew of anyone who is looking to adopt a family in need for Christmas this year or if you knew of any organizations that are. I have contacted 211 and they have nothing and 2 of my children are too old to receive gifts from Toys for Tots.
Does anyone know of any charities that offer help around Christmas time?
Gail
By guest post
By Linda
By may-fairy
By Caima
By Troy
By JustSusan
By JustSusan
In the fall, at the "back to school" sales, buy construction paper then at Christmas make the old-fashioned paper chains to hang around the tree or around doorways, buy some felt (very cheap) and make stockings or ornaments. Use the internet as a tool to search out craft sites for patterns for ornaments and stockings. There are many websites that offer free printables that you can print off that your kids can color, or you could print off favorite recipes on cute cards, put them in a bundle and tie with a pretty ribbon and give those as your gifts to friends.
You have to realize that we are not the first generation that has ever known financial difficulties, your children will not be the only children that haven't had that wonderfully fake "Norman Rockwell" kind of Christmas. You have very little to work with. You have to do the best you can with what you have; and what you have may not be money, but your own creative spirit.
You need to also get on the telephone and start calling around in your own city and look for help from the city offices (Mayor), Lions clubs, Kiwanis associations. Call stores that are collecting for "Toys for Tots" and ask how to sign up. Call local St. Vincent DePaul or Goodwill organizations and ask if they have a donation program for your family or a shopping day that low-income families can go in and "buy" things for a discounted price. Call your local churches, call your local schools, call your local banks; many have "giving tree" or "mitten tree" programs for the less fortunate. We don't have anything, but each other, and I think that is all that matters during the holiday season. (12/02/2006)
By Samantha
I am a single mom with 4 kids and I am in need of some help. Where can I find help? I've emailed churches and police stations and they can't help me. Any suggestions?
By Danielle from Newmarket, NH
By keeper60
By foxrun41
In the city where I live after Thanksgiving they have what they call the Christmas Clearing House, where people can apply for Christmas help. However, the demand is so large that not everybody receives help. A lot of the places that offer help, you have to have a way to go and pick up the stuff. When I was a kid there were four kids in my family and we were really hard up, but my parents always managed to have one gift for each of us without any help. Back in the 40s and 50s there wasn't a lot of help available. The gifts that we received were never expensive, and were never what was the latest "fad". They also were never anywhere near like what the other kids got, but we were happy. We never had turkey meals, sometimes it was a roast, or chicken, or a picnic ham, a meat that we didn't have on a regular basis.
Depending on the age of your kids, maybe you could make them a rag doll, stuffed animal, or item of clothing. My opinion of asking for Christmas help, is it is the same as putting a sign up in the town square or whatever it is called and letting your kids friends know how hard up you are. I am 70 years old and I know what hard up is from when I was a kid. (11/06/2010)
By redhatterb
By keeper60
When my kids were small and I was a single mom I had a toy party. I got friends and family to buy enough that I got toys for free for my kids. My last money was used to buy the most pathetic looking artificial tree and dollar store ornaments. It ended up being a good holiday despite not having money. One last thing to do is volunteer your time during the holiday season and teach your children the gift of giving. (11/06/2010)
By blazincopper
Pick up a turkey while they are so cheap over the holidays, my hubby just got one free with $25 of groceries and we gave it to an elderly neighbor. (11/06/2010)
By pamphyila
Good luck! (11/06/2010)
By straightace
By Deeli
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Christmas Charities