This article was last updated on November 1, 2022.
As the holidays quickly approach, families around the world will prepare to gather and celebrate with gift giving, flavorful feast and festive decor. However, during these gleeful times, it’s easy to forget there are many families/single parent households around the world struggling to thrive during the holidays.
Thankfully, there are holiday assistance services for families in need, ranging from Christmas tree giveaways to toy drives, food banks, gift cards, as well as financial assistance programs.
There are a host of organizations that provide holiday support for struggling families.
Tap to search nationwide resources by zip code.
Tap to search local (Austin) resources by zip code or call (833) 512-2289, chat with a team member, or text your zip code to 85511
Food Resources
An estimated 80 percent of food banks nationwide are distributing more food during the holidays. You can check Feeding America’s website or foodpantries.org to find one near you.
Meals on Wheels provides food for seniors. The distribute over 3000 meals daily to seniors and people with disabilities, and provide other crucial services to keep them healthy and well.
Food Rescue US works to provide for those in need while also reducing food waste by connecting businesses with excess supplies to those who prepare and deliver meals.
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Catholic Charities have a range of programs to help families, such as a “Christmas food basket” program, where people donate produce, turkeys, and canned goods to give families a Christmas dinner. They also run this program for Thanksgiving and Easter. Another Catholic Charities program is an adopt-a-family program where needy families are matched with donors who provide them free toys, clothes, and other items in the spirit of holiday help. Search here for your local program.
Local (ATX) Food Resources:
FREE Meals during the holidays
Texas Food Banks and Distribution Centers
Find out locations in the state of Texas where you can go to for food and groceries that are being offered by food banks and pantries to help people in need. Call 214.330.1396 to contact the North Texas Food Bank.
Financial & Family Resources
United Way is a referral service. It is a non-profit that offers free information to callers, including wellness and other free holiday resources.
United Way organization not only offers information on where to apply and how to get free Christmas clothing or toys for a kid, they also offer details on other much needed assistance programs. This may be free vouchers to pay for daycare, GED programs, job placement and training centers, as well as financial aid or emergency rental assistance programs for single mothers. Applications to all of those resources, and others, are made available at local United Way call center.
The Salvation Army provides a variety of services in an effort to provide support and assistance to families. They offer services that help struggling households pay their utility bills, offsetting the added financial burdens that come with holiday expenses. This allows low-income families to maintain stability while keeping up with their bills and keeping much needed utilities active during the cold winter months.
Angel Tree is a donation program in which new, wrapped presents are provided to children from families living in poverty as well as those in a financial crisis. All of the items passed out to the family are free of charge, if the applicant meets the terms of the assistance program. Read more on the Angel Tree Christmas gift program hand how to apply for the service.
Salvation Army also serves those in need 365 days a year through homeless shelters/ supportive housing services, food pantry/meal services and bill payment assistance. For more information and resources, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides after-school programs to kids around the county. Depending on your chapter, they may host holiday programs, like holiday toy drives and meals, to help financially struggling during the holidays.
The YMCA partners with different organizations like Toys for Tots and Salvation Army to provide Christmas assistance to low-income families. Chapters across the United States offer various programs throughout the holidays to give families a good Christmas.
Many churches serve free holiday meals, hold small gift drives for kids, and support members. Contact churches in your area to inquire about possible resources or services.
Retailers
Some retailers, such as Amazon, Wal-Mart or Target contribute to organizations that may be near you. People should contact their local state to see if this is an option.
Credit Counseling (Local)
Debt Consolidation, Credit Card Bills, and Financial Counseling
For low cost or even free advice, credit counselors from non-profit organizations can be contacted. Developing a budget, getting out of debt and paying bills are some of the things you can work together on. For credit counseling around the state of Texas, call 800-792-1119
One -Time TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
The one-time TANF grant payment, destined for single parents that are in a short term crisis, will provide a $1000 payment in cash. Call 877-541-7905. The purpose of this program is to help families facing a short term crisis such as:
• Job loss
• Not being able to get to work due to the fact that their vehicle needs repairs
• Loss of financial support, such as loss of child support, which they were receiving for a child. The payment can help with paying for utilities, rent and food
• The inability to find a job after one has graduated from college, university, junior college or technical training school.
• Loss of a home or an apartment
• Health care or medical emergency.
Christmas Trees
This organization works with community and human services organizations to help low-income families experience the joys of Christmas by giving away free trees. Of course they can not provide for every family in need, as with most charities it is a first come first serve situation. A certain number of trees are set aside before time.
Families receive a voucher to present when they come to pick up their Christmas tree. Each year this organization is adding new locations to the list of deserving families. Right now there is six-state this program is available. Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas.
This free Christmas tree program is sponsored. They not only to give away free trees but fully decorated trees! What an insightful concept. Many families may not have the be able to afford electric lights, all the things that make the holiday season come to life. To date, this organization has given more than 2,800 trees! They serve, Colorado Springs and Denver, Reno and Los Angeles, and are now all over the US. To request a tree, start here.
Find Free Christmas Trees Near You!
Resources for Children
The Dream Foundation’s Dream Toy Program provides thousands of free toys each year to children under the age of 18 who live with and are expecting the loss of a loved one. These are children of parents or guardians who are terminally ill or under hospice or end-of-life care.
Toy makers Hasbro and Ty, Inc. have partnered with Dream Foundation to deliver new toys for hundreds of children. Volunteers pack boxes for each child with toys and games they are likely to enjoy.
Make a Wish Foundation offers a variety of resources and services to families with a child up to 18, who is ill with a life-threatening illness.
USPS Operation Santa®
For over 100 years, Operation Santa allows kids from all over the United States to write letters for Santa sharing their Christmas wishes. They have a partnership with Be an Elf, a network of volunteers who help fulfill the wishes of children all over the nation.
Military Resources
There are a host of programs or organizations that provide assistance to families in need during the holidays. See extensive list of programs here.
The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas.
The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America’s less fortunate children.
CLICK HERE to find the Local Marine Toys for Tots Campaign in your community and visit their local campaign website for details and instructions.
Santa’s Little Helpers (St.Louis Residents)
Santa’s Little Helpers is an online Reddit community aimed to help give families in need a joyful Christmas.
Housing Assistance, Auto & Utilities
HFTH is the flagship program at Warrick Dunn Charities. Our focus is on providing a hand-up – not a handout – to single parents and their children. We surprise single parent families (who are actively working to support themselves) with home furnishings and downpayment assistance.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help low-income families make utility payments.
Rent Assistance , you can reach out to a HUD counselor.
Section 8
A portion of a beneficiary’s rent can be paid by the federal government housing choice voucher program, 1-800-955-2232
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
TDHCA provides vouchers to assist single parents in need with paying their rent. Assistance with fees and security deposits is also offered. Contact 800-525-0657 to find more ways to get help with paying your rent.
Mortgage and Foreclosure Aid
Programs
There are mortgage and foreclosure aid programs that can help you with paying your mortgage and also avoiding foreclosure. These specific programs offered by the State of Texas. Qualified single moms can qualify for assistance through local resources, including government and non-profit assistance. Contact a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved Foreclosure Intervention Counseling organization at 800-569-4287
Cars 4 Christmas is an amazing initiative that gifts families with a car as a Christmas gift. Every year, they give hundreds of cars filled with groceries, toys, cleaning products, child safety seats, and gas cards.
Free Automobile Repair for Single Parents
Single Moms Society is a free resource, community and referral membership website for single parents. We offer a host of free resources including, but not limited to: parenting, coparenting, financial assistance, wellness, career/employment, food, discounts, housing and more! Join here!
Health & Wellness
Community centers, hospitals, schools, and places of worship sometimes offer free or low-cost counseling.
Due to COVID safety precautions, online counseling support might be a good place to start. Don’t hesitate to try out an online telehealth service.
Experiencing cold symptoms? Need help managing your diabetes or mental health? Minute Clinic’s licensed providers have the clinical expertise to help with your concerns. Their providers specialize in mental health and general family medicine.
Inspire communities provide a place for people with similar interests to support and encourage each other 24/7 online. Inspire is the largest provider of health-specific communities.
Mental Health America moderates a mental health forum on Inspire.
*Counseling Near You
Additionally, if you live in a city or a college town, universities are often an ideal place to get low-cost (or even free) therapy. If you’re a student, you might be eligible for at least a few sessions with a campus psychologist or counselor. Most universities or colleges have a graduate training clinic where counseling interns are learning to be therapists or psychologists. These clinics are often open to the public, and tend to offer sliding scales fees that can be as low as $1.
Even if you live in a small community, you might be surprised what mental health resources are available to you by way of community centers, hospitals, schools, and places of worship sometimes offer free or low-cost counseling. If you’re not sure where to get started, you contact call 211 (a government-established hotline that connects people to community or government agencies) or a local clinic.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAOMI)
NAOMI also has a helpline that offers free assistance and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach the helpline at 1-800-950-6264. For more information visit NAMI.org or text NAMI to 741741.
Social Services and Government Aid
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Texas Health & Human Services is the leading organization to contact. Free medical and dental care, food assistance and energy bill help are part of the range of resources offered to single moms across the state. 877-541-7905
Additional Wellness Resources:
Here’s an Emotional Well-Being Kit you might find helpful. This kit includes:
- Learning Activities to Do at Home
- Parent and Children Self-care
- And more!
10 Tips for Staying Sober This Holiday Season
Important Links:
Christmas and free holiday programs Austin and Travis County
**Extensive List of Important Guides & Emergency Resources **
Please comment below if you find these resources helpful or if you have additional resources to share.
Wishing your family a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.
