If this year’s budget doesn’t stretch to presents, a holiday meal and the heating bill, you’re not out of options. Toy drives, food pantries and energy assistance programs exist for exactly this time of year, and most of them run on deadlines that start early.
This guide covers where to get each kind of help, how to apply, and what to bring. Every program below sets its rules locally, so the steps tell you where to find the details for your area.
At a glance
- Toys: apply through your local Toys for Tots campaign or Salvation Army Angel Tree.12
- Not sure where to start: dial 211, 24/7 and confidential.3
- Food: a local food pantry, plus SNAP or WIC through your state.456
- Heating bills: LIHEAP, 1-866-674-6327. It never charges a fee.7
- Phone or internet: Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off.8
- Apply now. Several 2026 Angel Tree sign-ups opened in September and early October.
| You need | Where to go | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas toys for kids | Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Angel Tree | Your local campaign’s site or local Salvation Army |
| A holiday meal or groceries | Food pantries, SNAP, WIC | Feeding America ZIP search, your state SNAP agency |
| Heating bill or shutoff notice | LIHEAP, your utility | 1-866-674-6327 or the LIHEAP office search |
| Help finding any of these | 211 | Dial 2-1-1 |
| A lower phone or internet bill | Lifeline | fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers or 1-800-234-9473 |
Free Christmas toys for kids
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots runs through local campaigns in more than 800 communities, covering all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.9 You don’t apply to the national organization. You apply to the campaign that covers where you live.1
Find your local campaign
On toysfortots.org, choose Request a Toy, pick your state, then the city or county nearest you. That takes you to your local campaign’s page with its contact details and how to request a toy.10
Fill in the family application
If your local campaign takes online applications, you’ll see a Family Toy Application option. When you submit it, you get a control number on the confirmation page and in a confirmation email. Keep it, because you need it to check your status.11
Check the age limit
Most local chapters can help children up to age 12, and some communities go higher.10
Follow up locally
The coordinator contacts you once they’ve received your request. If you haven’t heard back, contact your local representative, not the national office, which can slow things down.10
Toy collection usually runs from October to mid or late December, and toys are handed out in mid to late December, often with help from local agencies and churches.9
The Salvation Army Angel Tree
Angel Tree matches children with donors who buy them new clothes and toys. The Salvation Army says more than 1 million children received Christmas gifts through it in 2025.2 If you’re worried about presents this year, the Salvation Army’s advice is to reach out to your local location.2
Each location sets its own rules and dates, and some fill up early. A few real 2026 examples show the range:
- Augusta, Georgia opened 2026 applications on October 5, for children 12 and under.12
- Central Virginia took online applications September 21 to 23, with in-person appointments October 5 to 8, for children 13 or younger.13
- In Michigan and Indiana, each county has its own sign-up, and ages run through 16.14
What to bring to a toy sign-up
Requirements are set locally, so check your location first. One Salvation Army office asks for:15
- A photo ID for the parent or guardian applying
- Something showing each child’s birthdate with the parent’s name, like a birth certificate, shot record or school record
- Proof of where you live, like a utility bill or rent bill
Some locations also check income in person.
Not sure where to start? Dial 211
211 connects you with local help, and every call is confidential. Trained staff are available 24/7, and most people who reach out are looking for help with housing, food, transportation or health care.3 You can call 211 from a cell phone or landline, and many areas also offer text, chat or an online search through your local 211.16
It’s a good first call if you need more than one kind of help, or if your local toy drive has already closed.
Holiday food and groceries
Food pantries
Feeding America’s food bank finder lets you enter your ZIP code to see nearby food banks, then click through for the hours, locations and services of the pantries and meal programs they supply.4 A food pantry is where people get free food, and anyone who needs extra help affording food can visit one, though some have requirements like living in a certain area. On your first visit they may ask a few questions about your household to give you the right amount of food.4
SNAP
SNAP gives food benefits to low-income households to add to their grocery budget. You apply in the state where you live, through your state agency’s office, website or SNAP hotline.5 Most applications get a decision within 30 days, and you’ll have an interview and need to show proof of what you reported. Some households can get benefits within 7 days.5
The rules changed in 2025. Since July 4, 2025, the SNAP time limit for adults without dependents covers ages 18 to 64, and the exception for parents applies to children under 14.17 USDA says it’s still updating its eligibility pages for these changes,5 so ask your state SNAP office how the rules apply to your household.
WIC
WIC is for women who are pregnant, recently pregnant or breastfeeding, and for babies and children under 5. Parents, guardians and anyone else raising a child under 5 can apply for the child. It covers everyday groceries like fruit, vegetables, baby food, milk and eggs at no cost.6
Once the holiday basics are covered, our guide to meal planning on a budget helps groceries last longer.
Help with heating and utility bills
LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps with home heating bills, energy crises, reconnecting service after a shutoff, and repairing or replacing heating equipment.7 It’s run by each state, and eligibility depends on household size, income and other benefits you get.18
Find your state’s office
Call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 on weekdays, or use the LIHEAP office search tool to find where to apply.718
Ask when applications open
States set their own dates for winter help, so ask when this season’s applications open and what proof of income they need.
Apply early if you have a shutoff notice
LIHEAP can help prevent shutoffs and reconnect service.7 Tell the office if you already have a disconnection notice.
LIHEAP is never a paid service
LIHEAP doesn’t give grants directly to individuals and doesn’t charge a fee for a benefit. If anyone offers you a LIHEAP grant or asks for a fee, report it to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477.7
Winter shutoff protections
According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, 42 states have cold-weather rules that limit disconnections, and 44 have protections for vulnerable households.19 They have limits: your utility keeps billing you during those periods, the rules don’t reduce what you already owe, and they generally cover regulated utilities, not most municipal utilities, rural co-ops or delivered fuel like propane and heating oil.19
If you’re behind, call your utility first and ask about payment plans. Our list of ways to lower your utility bills starts with the free fixes.
A lower phone or internet bill
Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service by up to $9.25 a month, or up to $34.25 on Tribal lands. You can qualify with income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you take part in programs like SNAP, Medicaid, federal public housing assistance, SSI or Veterans Pension. It’s one benefit per household, and the help line is 1-800-234-9473.8
Watch for fake charities and fake help
The holidays bring out scammers on both sides of giving. The FTC warns that some use names that sound a lot like real charities, and that anyone who wants money by cash, gift card or wire transfer is a scammer.20 The Salvation Army warns about fake donation sites and emails pretending to be from well-known organizations, and suggests going straight to the organization’s own website.21
Our own rule: help programs for families don’t need your bank password or a payment to sign you up. If someone asks you to pay to get on a toy list or get a grant, stop and contact the organization directly using the website you looked up yourself. You can report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.20
Planning for next year
Once this season is handled, a small amount set aside each month can make next December easier. Our Christmas savings plan spreads the cost across the year, and the emergency fund guide starts from zero, level by level.
Questions people ask
How do I sign up for Toys for Tots?
Go to toysfortots.org, choose Request a Toy, pick your state and the city or county nearest you, and you’ll reach your local campaign’s page. Applications are handled by each local campaign, which sets its own deadlines and rules.
How do I get on the Salvation Army Angel Tree?
Contact your local Salvation Army. Each location runs its own sign-up, and in 2026 some opened applications in September and early October, so it’s worth calling now. Common documents are a parent’s photo ID, proof of each child’s birthdate and proof of address.
Who can I call if I don't know where to start?
Dial 211. It connects you with local help for things like food, housing, utilities and other bills, around the clock, and calls are confidential.
Can I get help with my heating bill this winter?
Yes, through LIHEAP, the federal energy assistance program run by each state. Call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 or use the LIHEAP office search tool to find where to apply. LIHEAP never charges a fee for a benefit.
Does a food pantry ask for proof of income?
Feeding America says anyone who needs extra help affording food can visit a food pantry or meal program, though some have extra requirements like living in a certain area. On a first visit you may be asked a few questions about your household.
Sources
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Request a Toy.
- The Salvation Army USA, Holiday Giving.
- United Way 211, About Us.
- Feeding America, Find Your Local Food Bank and Holiday Food Boxes.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility (information for Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027).
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
- Administration for Children and Families, HHS, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- Federal Communications Commission, Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications.
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, How the Program Works.
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Frequently Asked Questions.
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Check Status of Toy Application.
- The Salvation Army, Augusta Area Command, Christmas Assistance (2026 season).
- The Salvation Army, Central Virginia Area Command, Angel Tree (2026).
- The Salvation Army, Great Lakes Division, Angel Tree FAQ.
- The Salvation Army, Greater Winston-Salem Area Command, Angel Tree Information and Instructions.
- United Way 211, I need help paying my bills.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025: ABAWD Exceptions Implementation Memorandum (October 3, 2025).
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse (HHS), Need Help With Your Energy Bills?.
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse (HHS), Disconnect Policies (last updated July 20, 2026).
- Federal Trade Commission, Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams.
- The Salvation Army USA, How to Donate Safely Online This Christmas (December 10, 2025).
Facts checked against the sources above on October 9, 2026.
This is general education, not personal financial or legal advice. Programs, rules and prices change, so check the linked official source before you act.