Christmas Help for Low Income Families?

I am looking for agencies that help needy families for Christmas.

By melony from Kent, WA

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Joan
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October 23, 20100 found this helpful

If you are low enough income to be getting help from the Department of Social Services contact them. In the town where I live all the agencies that help low income families at Christmas time have a clearing house where people can apply for that type of help. I don't know if it is the same in all states or not but in SD the clearing house is under the Help Line program. I think all states have something like that. Other wise contact the closest Salvation Army. Toys for Tots operates in most larger size towns during the holidays. If you can't access things like that, what I did when my kids were little was if they needed a new item of clothing that is what they got. New toys aren't a necessity.

If your kids are teen agers they should be able to understand times are hard. Really all any kid needs is one gift and most of the time they will be satisfied. Also sometimes you can get nice toys, books, and clothes at thrift shops and they can be used as gifts. My late Mother spent several years browsing antique shops until she had a certain type cookie jar for each one of us three girls, sometimes she would just find the jar without the lid, but she scrounged until she had a complete cookie jar for each of us. They were used, but thoughtful and appreciated. My self if I still had kids I would rather give them one small gift, than go asking for help.

Diane

October 27, 20100 found this helpful

People have given excellent suggestions. I just thought I'd mention a food service that's available to anyone to save on groceries, it's called:

Angel Food Ministries (any income can use this service and it's very helpful to make food dollars stretch!)...here's their website to read the info, find a site near you, read their menu (they do accept food stamps among other kinds of payments). The food is very good and I love the meat packages! excellent quality!...www.angelfoodministries.com/ truly worthwhile organization!

Sandi/Poor But Proud
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October 27, 20100 found this helpful

This link might help. Good Luck!
www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=family+assistance...

Lilac
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October 27, 20100 found this helpful

Salvation Army

Lelia Jo Cordell
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October 27, 20100 found this helpful

I know the TF staff linked in a comment I made on this question last year. I'm posting again anyway!
If you or your spouse is a veteran, ask your local Veterans' Affairs office if they have a holiday program. One year when we needed help, they gave us a Kroger gift card along with the other help they provided.

Also, it's not too early to put Christmas requests on your local FreeCycle group. (I'm presuming you're a member. If not, it's free to join. Go to FreeCycle.org and click around to find your closest chapter.) I was blessed to help a FreeCycle mom with a couple of small items for the two teenage boys in her home last year. It felt great to be the giver for a change!

Marisha

November 6, 20100 found this helpful

We have an organization called the Holiday Bureau. You can probably contact your church or job and family services and they can give you some affiliations to this.
Good luck and Happy Holidays.

The Homeless Housewife

December 10, 20110 found this helpful

homelesshousewife.wordpress.com/.../

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