Free Christmas Presents for Needy Kids

Parents who are experiencing financial difficulties might wonder where to get free Christmas presents for needy kids. Luckily, a number of resources are available for help.

The first thing to do is determine whether you actually need help with your Christmas budget. If you are near the federal poverty level and/or have trouble paying for basic necessities, such as food, clothing and housing, you likely qualify for assistance.

Christmas help for low income families is often given to people who seek out assistance. If you need help, it is important to contact agencies and groups in the fall, rather than waiting until December.

If you want to receive free Christmas presents for needy kids, try contacting one of the following groups in your area:

• Local Toys for Tots charity
• Church organizations
• Community service organizations or clubs
• Social service and low income assistance programs
• State and county agencies
• Salvation Army
• Women and children's shelters
• College service learning programs

The various agencies that distribute presents to needy children will vary depending on your area, as many are run on a local level. For example, local police and fire stations, libraries and banks may all collect toys and give them to agencies for distribution.

If you are unsure of where to begin looking for assistance, try contacting another service agency, such as an income assistance agency or shelter. Even if they do not help with free Christmas presents for needy kids, they can often point you in the right direction.

Unfortunately, some people do try to take advantage of available assistance. That is why some agencies may ask to see verification or proof of the following:

• Government assistance information (unemployment stub, food stamp card, etc.)
• Photo I.D.
• Proof the child is yours (such as birth certificate or baptismal certificate)
• Short explanation of the circumstances surrounding the need for assistance

Your name(s) may be recorded onto an information sheet or into a database. The purpose of this is not to embarrass anyone, but rather to create a system that runs smoothly and helps the largest number of people. Be aware that if you get help with holiday gifts from one agency, you may not be able to get help from another, depending on each group's gift distribution guidelines.

The way each organization runs its gift distribution to the needy children will vary. Some organizations will distribute the gifts through another agency, such as a hospital with a children's wing or a women and children's shelter. Other agencies may set up in a community hall for several days.

To find out how distribution works, do the following:

• Check community bulletin boards for flyers
• Read the local newspaper for articles on Christmas help for families
• Ask one of the organization's volunteers
• Visit or call the group that is collecting and giving out the presents

Some groups might only hand out free toys for Christmas, while others might include clothing, shoes, boots or coats. Additionally, some organizations may allow you (and possibly your child, too) to pick out the gift for your child, while others will distribute the gifts randomly from a designated group, usually based on age, gender or size.

Even if you are on the poverty threshold and have just a few gifts for your children, the holiday can still be one filled with wonder and magic for your children. Instead of focusing on presents and gifts, try doing the following:

• Take a walking tour of the city or town to look at the Christmas lights
• Enjoy a free holiday parade in your hometown
• Look at all the decorated storefront windows (but not going inside)
• Bake a special batch of cookies together while listening to Christmas music
• Read holiday stories together that you checked out from the local library
• Play in the snow and making snowmen together

Remember to ask for assistance early if you need free Christmas gifts for children in need, and to have forms of identification ready when you pick up the presents. Keep in mind that the amount of presents under the tree doesn't make the holiday special, but rather the memories made with your children that they will treasure for a lifetime.

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