Offers seasonal services, including:

- Holiday food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, with gift cards for turkey
- Holiday toys and gifts as supplies last
- Easter baskets for youth
- Back-to-school supplies and backpacks for students in August

Holiday baskets are offered seasonally, provided through local community support. Programs vary by location; call for information.

[For Thanksgiving 2023:

Applications for Thanksgiving Food Packages must be picked up and completed at local offices; call for dates. (Carroll County: must be returned by November 3rd; Calhoun County: must be returned by November 10th)]

[For Christmas 2023:

(Carroll County) Giving Tree/Toys for Tots forms are available at the Carroll Outreach Office starting October 17th. To be eligible, applicants must have primary custody of the children being signed up, must be a resident of Carroll County, have children ages 14 and under, and be on New Opportunities' programs. If applicant is approved, they will receive a letter specifying when unwrapped gifts may be picked up in December. Forms must be completed and returned to the Outreach Center on or before November 10th.]

Gifts and a food voucher are available to families with children ages 15 and younger and to seniors age 60+. Food vouchers are available for families with children ages 16+ and to adults without children.

For 2025 Christmas Assistance:

Registration will be done in person. Applicants must sign up at the location matching their zip code.

OMAHA CITADEL - 3738 Cuming Street:

- Monday, November 10 (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm)

- Tuesday, November 11 (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-7 pm)

- Wednesday, November 12 (9 am-12 pm)

- Zip codes: 68007, 68002, 68064, 68110, 68111, 68112, 68116, 68122, 68134, 68152, 68102, 68131, 68114, 68130, 68135, 68010, 68144, 68104, 68132, 68142, 68118, 68154, 68178, 68164.

KROC CENTER - 2825 Y Street:

- Thursday, November 6 (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm)

- Friday, November 7 (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm)

- Saturday, November 8 (9 am-1 pm)

- Zip codes; 68005, 68028, 68046, 68059, 68107, 68127, 68128, 68133, 68136, 68113, 68147, 68117, 68157, 68123, 68106, 68137, 68105, 68108, 68124, 68138.

NORTH CORPS - 2424 Pratt Street:

- Saturday, November 1 (9 am-1 pm)

- Monday, November 3 (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm)

- Tuesday, November 4 (9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm)

- Zip codes: 68007, 68002, 68064, 68110, 68111, 68112, 68116, 68122, 68134, 68152.

Provides holiday meals.

Easter Provides a ham. Distribution day varies, call to confirm.

Thanksgiving provides turkeys or ham for Thanksgiving as part of regular food distribution the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Christmas Provides ham as part of regular food distribution the Saturday before Christmas.

Food for emergencies. Donations accepted from area churches, groups, and schools.

Free food pantry outside front door of Hickman Presbyterian Church also available at 300 East 3rd Street in Hickman.

Holiday baskets for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas, people who use the pantry during the year are given holiday baskets. Call or visit the pantry for information about basket distribution dates and times.

For Christmas food for 2025, signup dates are:

- 11/19 - 5 pm-8 pm

- 12/3 - 5 pm-8 pm

- 12/6 - 10 am-4 pm

- One sign up per household.

- Sign up for food at the Kearney Salvation Army (North doors) at 1719 Central Ave, Kearney. Signing up for toys is a separate process.

For Christmas Toys for 2025:

- Angel Tree is live for signups, as of Oct 2, 2025. Must live in Buffalo County. Sign up at www.saangeltree.org

- Registration deadline to be determined.

[2024: The sign-up for the Goodfellows/Salvation Army Angel Tree toys is for children ages 18 and under. Applications are for Buffalo County zip codes only. Applicants must apply online at www.saangeltree.org

The deadline for signing up for toys is December 16, 2024. For questions, visit the Salvation Army Kearney page on Facebook and use Facebook Messenger; staff will reply as soon as possible. www.facebook.com/TSAKearney]

Provides Christmas food baskets, as well as Christmas gifts for children.

Christmas 2025:

Online applications Wed, Oct 1, 2025 through Fri, Oct 31, 2025. Website: www.saangeltree.org

In-person appointments Oct 20 through Oct 31 (no Tuesdays). Call for questions or appointments.

Provides toys at Christmastime for low-income children, as well as a food voucher.

Sign Up opens November 3, 2025 Visit the website and select a county to find signup locations in the area. For those who do not have an e-mail or access to technology, there will be in-person sign up on November 17 and 18, 2025 at the Salvation Army, 747 Village Green Drive, Mason City IA on the Eastside of Menards.

Visit the website for counties and agencies participating in local holiday assistance programs.

Holiday baskets are offered seasonally, provided through local community support. Programs vary by location; call for information.

[For Thanksgiving 2023:

Applications for Thanksgiving Food Packages must be picked up and completed at local offices; call for dates. (Carroll County: must be returned by November 3rd; Calhoun County: must be returned by November 10th)]

[For Christmas 2023:

(Carroll County) Giving Tree/Toys for Tots forms are available at the Carroll Outreach Office starting October 17th. To be eligible, applicants must have primary custody of the children being signed up, must be a resident of Carroll County, have children ages 14 and under, and be on New Opportunities' programs. If applicant is approved, they will receive a letter specifying when unwrapped gifts may be picked up in December. Forms must be completed and returned to the Outreach Center on or before November 10th.]

2025 Holiday assistance includes Adopt A Child/Family and Christmas Baskets. Baskets are distributed at the Adair County Matura Outreach Center. Gifts are for children through 10 years old.

CHRISTMAS BASKETS: To sign up, call (dates to be determined). Registrants will be notified when their basket is available.

ADOPT A CHILD/FAMILY: Taking applications (dates to be determined). Please call the Adair County office at (641) 743-2424.

Offering Christmas baskets on December 16th, 2025, at 10 am-11 am.

For Christmas 2025:

The Christmas Store offers presents at affordable prices to families in need.

The store will be open Thu, Dec 11 (6 pm-8 pm), Fri, Dec 12 (9:30 am-8 pm), and Sat, Dec 13 (9:30 am-11 am).

Families select their shopping time at registration.

Applicants must be the legal guardian of each child being registered, and the child must live in the applicant's home.

In-person registration to shop at the store:

- Fri, Nov 14 (9 am-6 pm)

- Sat, Nov 15 (9 am-12 pm)

- Fri, Nov 21 (9 am-6 pm)

- Sat, Nov 22 (9 am-12 pm)

Shoppers may contact City Impact to register:

- Call: (402) 477-8080

- Email: [email protected]

Donate online, view wishlists, and find drop-off locations at https://cityimpact.org/gifts-of-love-2025

Volunteers, community groups and local businesses donate materials, food, toys and skills for seasonal holiday projects for low-income families. Provides food packages and allowances to purchase clothes, shoes, coats, and household goods.

Projects vary annually and by county office. Community members may contact their county BVCA office for details about local holiday programs.

For Christmas 2024:

-- Nemaha County - 12/20/24 11 am-4 pm. Gift card pick up at the Auburn Christian Church.

-- Johnson County - 12/16/2024. All day pickup (8 am-4 pm) of gift cards in Tecumseh office.

-- Pawnee County - 12/18/2024 9AM - 11:30 am and 1 pm-3:30 pm. Pick up of food and gift cards in the Community Room at the Village Apartments.

The mission of the program is to collect and distribute new unwrapped toys as Christmas gifts to children ages 0-14.

Toy application information for 2025:

10/1/25: Application open date.

11/14/25: Application close date.

10/01/25: Application response start date.

11/14/25: Application response end date.

Toy Distribution:

Starts 11/20/2025, ends 12/11/2025. Approved applicants will be notified of specific distribution dates and locations.

Offering a drive-thru Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. Then a food basket is offered after the meal, generally distributed the Friday before the holidays. Please call ahead for information on meals.

Thanksgiving meal - November 21st at 2 pm

Christmas Meal - December 19th at 2 pm

Provides a seasonal Christmas give-away of food and Christmas presents for children of families in need. Children ages 12 and under receive toys and teens ages 13 through 18 receive a goodie bag.

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025:

Sign-up for Thanksgiving food box, Christmas food box, and Christmas gifts (for qualifying children) takes place in October only. Starts Oct 1, 2025, and ends Oct 30, 2025.

Applicants must bring documentation identifying each member of the household.

New Beginnings Discipleship Ministries offers to help families to sign up for Toys for Tots during the holiday season.

Sign up dates to be determined.

Christmas gifts and food in partnership with county partners.

For Christmas 2024:

Holiday Gift and Food Basket applications may be picked up at the SENCA office in Falls City or Humboldt, starting October 28th, 2024. No applications will be accepted after November 15th at 4 pm.

For any questions, call the SENCA office: Humboldt number is (402) 862-2411; Falls City number is (402) 245-5284.

Provides a meal box which includes a turkey and all the fixings. Each box feeds a family of 4.

For Christmas 2025:

Angel Tree - Families can register online to receive toys for children up to age 18. Registration open as of Oct 7, 2025, and closes Dec 8, 2025. Website: www.saangeltree.org

Registration for Christmas Distribution begins the first Monday of October and ends on the 2nd Monday in December each year. Go to SAAngelTree.org

The mission of the program is to collect and distribute new unwrapped toys as Christmas gifts to children less fortunate in the local community, ages 6 months-12 years.

Toy application information for 2025:
10/1/25: Application open date.
11/26/25: Application close date.
10/13/25: Application response start date.
11/29/25: Application response end date.

Verification Dates and Times:

October Dates: Open from 9 am-6 pm

October- 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th, and 29th

November Dates: Open from 9 am-6 pm

November- 1st, 15th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, and 29th

Toy Distribution:
Starts 10/28/2025, ends 12/19/2025. Approved applicants will be notified of specific distribution dates and locations.

Holiday Adoption program.

For Christmas 2025, the deadline to apply for Shelby County is December 1st.

For Monona County, deadline is December 5, 2025, and must be a client receiving services from LIHEAP. Call to make appointment for LIHEAP and then receive application for Holiday Adoption.

This program is especially designed to help families who are facing financial hardships and are unable to afford a Christmas dinner or new toys and warm clothing for their children. The Holiday Adoption Program hopes to address the needs of low-income children and families during the holidays and winter season.

For Thanksgiving/Christmas 2025:

Provides special meals during the holiday season.

Holiday Families provides support to families during the holidays, in partnership with community organizations.

Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gift distribution programs and dates and times vary by location. Families are encouraged to contact their local office for details.