Where to get free Christmas gifts or money to pay for toys in 2025.
If you need free Christmas gifts, toys, or money to pay for gifts for your children for the 2025 holiday, you have several resources available that may be near you. The options include programs initiated by organizations as diverse as charities, churches, or national retailers. Find a list of programs and places below, with links to more details, which provide free Christmas gifts and toys, with a focus on lower income families with kids.
Low-income parents facing a one-off financial hardship, people with little or no money due to say employment issues and single moms often need help in paying for gifts or they seek free toys for their kids. The various free holiday gift giving programs rely on donations from the community so of course resources are limited. It is always very important to sign up as early as possible for a free Christmas toy program as the demand for help, whether a gift or voucher, from struggling households is always very high. The main categories of help including the following.
The holidays can be stressful for many people, especially those on a low-income. If you want to read what other people’s experiences may be, how and where they are getting free Christmas toys or ask a question, check out our Discussion Forum on programs that help with the holidays. You can see what others are experiencing in all parts of the country.
List of programs with free Christmas toys from businesses or charities
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The organizations below will offer free Christmas toys or even money to pay for a gift. Most of the assistance is targeted at children of low income households, even more so single parent run homes. However, there are also free toys for grandparents who are raising kids. The fact many different programs provide help to struggling households during the Christmas season so that they can get one or more Xmas toys for their kid(s).
Non-profits and local charity organizations operate in most states. Using donations from the community, as well as relying on volunteers, there may be free toys, gift certificates (which are really equivalent to free money) and other items provided to struggling families. While each community will have their own form of program, there are local agencies such as Catholic Charities, St. Vincent De Paul, Urban League, or the Salvation Army that run special free Christmas toy assistance programs. More details on how to get help from local Christmas assistance programs.
Local churches provide free Christmas gifts. Throughout this site you will find lists of churches to call for help, whether at Christmas or other times of the year. A faith based group may have money to pay for Christmas toys, food boxes or gifts. Even if a local church does need offer the parent funds, they may still process applications for any number of free holiday gift giving programs in partnership with organizations such as Toys for Tots or others. Or they may administer donation programs for your community. Find churches in your area that help.
The Angel Tree Christmas gift giving program is operated by many businesses, charities and in particular the Salvation Army. This 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 or that have no money for the holidays. All of the items passed out to the family will be free of charge, if the applicant meets the terms of the assistance program. Read more on the Angel Tree Christmas gift program and how to apply for the service.
Free Christmas Toys for Tots is a charitable gift and present program for people of all backgrounds. It is partly run by the Marine Corps in partnership with representatives from local communities as well as businesses. It is available in most communities. The free Toys for Tots assistance program helps everyone from single moms seeking a free toy or gift certificate for their child to the unemployed.
- Toys for Tots is available locally, and applicants need to apply as their are income and age requirements. The registration for the giveaway of gifts will usually take place in September, October, or November, depending on where you live. The focus is on giving free Christmas gifts to parents with children under the age of 14, but is can vary by location. Find more details on applying for Toys for Tots.
Free toys from clothing closets or furniture banks are offered to low-income parents. These non-profits that may be near you may offer free gifts, clothes, holiday decorations or Christmas toys during the holidays. The inventory varies. Some may offer free vouchers, or money, so you can shop for exactly what you need at the store. A clothing bank may open the doors to the kids as well as so they can select the specific toys or clothes they need for Christmas in a “client choice” type operation. Get more information on clothing closets.
The USPS Operation Santa programs gives out free toys or Christmas money to families in need with disbursement in all communities. Kids can write letters to "Santa" with their wish list of toys, gift cards, and other needs. Volunteers and charities partner with the USPS (United States Postal Service) and adopt these kids. They then send free Xmas gifts or gift cards, providing help to low-income families with children during the holidays. Learn more here. https://www.uspsoperationsanta.com/getinvolved.
Some retailers offer free holiday gift sprees. National chains with a local presence such as Target, Amazon or WalMart contribute to charities that run these programs that may be near you. People should inquire at a local store to see if this is an option for Xmas presents for children. Many of the major stores with a local presence will give free gift certificates, cash or other items directly to the qualified family or even hold a shopping spree. Call the United Way 211 service for local option, or set up a free email alert to be notified.
SVDP, or St. Vincent parishes, sell low-cost items and also give free Christmas as well as even birthday toys to families in poverty. Many of the Catholic Churches also give free Christmas clothes or small toys to homeless people with kids. The toys are given as well as food at hot meals at Christmas. Read more on programs in your area from Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Toys, gifts, and other free Christmas services (including money or free gift cards) are part of Salvation Army Christmas Giving Programs. These free giveaway programs are mostly run by volunteers and donations. There are toys for boys or girls, teenagers, and others in need collected and then distributed in a community. Find Christmas toys from Salvation Army listed by state.
Local Catholic Charity affiliated churches may also be able to offer free Christmas gifts or money at Christmas to use for shopping at a second hand store - or they pass out those goods for free items from a thrift store. Other lower to moderate income families may need to pay a little money for a Christmas gift for their child, but the stores that that tend to be available to the public and they will have very competitive prices. Find assistance from Catholic Charities.
Another mostly national organization with free Christmas presents, toy programs, clothing, and more is the Assistance League. There are hundreds of different locations and each one of their programs may go by a different name. There may be free gift certificates, money to parents for shopping, or vouchers. The Assistance League Programs are commonly called Santa’s Closet, Operation Christmas, and similar names. Find additional help from the Assistance League.
Site search on NHPB too for Christmas gifts. Most counties / areas have very local programs that offer free Christmas toy giveaways at Christmas. It can be as small as a church on a certain street or a social service agency or something similar. Use the site search feature and type in what you are looking for (toys, etc.) as well as location, with more details here on the Needhelppayingbills search feature.
Programs that provide free Christmas vouchers - including trees, food or gift delivery
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Sometimes the family needs a free Christmas meal or box of food. There are programs, including gift cards or vouchers that focus strictly on that need as well. They try to feed low income families, maybe serve a dinner, or some charities even throw parties in which gifts, money, and groceries may be given too to attendees. Find charities to contact for free meals at Christmas.
People without transportation can get free toys too. Ask for help from a non-profit or a local charity that may be near you, but be sure to sign up for a free Christmas present early as the programs operate on a first come-served basis. In rare cases, if you do not live near a Christmas toy or present distribution site, it may be possible to get free Christmas gifts sent in the mail. If they do not have resources or ability to mail an item, then check in with family, your friends, relatives, and neighbors.
Free Christmas Trees or a voucher to pay for one may be passed out as well so that a family has a place to put the toys for their kid(s). Xmas tree programs are limited, and some of the programs are only for single mothers or fathers and/or military families. Any assistance is first come and served as well. However some families that are low income and in a crisis may be able to get help. Find more information on free Christmas Tree programs.
Get free or cheap Christmas toys, or low cost goods, from local thrift stores. There are thousands of these across the US and they operate in most local cities, towns, and counties. Based on donations and the work of volunteers, the stores may have thousands of items, including goods at Christmas.
- Each store is different. Some have, and give out to struggling people free items at Christmas like toys, clothes, electronics, games, dolls, trucks, and so much more. Some thrift stores will only sell items to the general public, but they will be gently used and in good shape. Or a low income or struggling family is given a voucher to in effect be free Christmas gifts for their kids.. The locations are very local and that may near you can be an option, and find more details on thrift stores.
Prison Fellowship helps kids with one or more incarcerated parents. It is an Angel Tree toy program that operates with local charities and churches given out the free Christmas gifts as well as gift cards to the kids in need. There are also meals, educational supplies and other help for the children at Christmas, and more details are here. https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/angel-tree-christmas/.
Get free money for the 2025 Christmas season to pay for gifts
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Free Crowdfunding sites can be another way to raise money to pay for Christmas toys or people can (and have!) crowdfunded to ask for free gifts for their kids. The process involves using one of the networks out there, such as GoFundMe or PayPal Giving Fund, to create a campaign.
- You will need to tell your story, why you are struggling, and why you need toys or presents for your kid(s). The person seeking free Christmas toys or food will often need to use their social network(s) to spread the word. While there are no guarantees to get gifts or money from a campaign, it is an option. Read more about free Crowdfunding campaigns.
Find how to get free money too. Most of these are year round services but can help during the Christmas season. There are from charities, apps, corporate giveaways, government benefits and other services. That cash can be used to pay for Christmas gifts or toys, with some free money options (such as government benefits) for the low-income. In general, there may be samples, rebates, apps or other tools to use to get the free cash - as there will be some requirements. Learn more on how to get free money.
Free cash back for Christmas shopping online or on your phone is offered by some companies as well as apps. All of the cash back apps are free to download and use for Christmas shopping. Consumers can easily receive free cash back ranging from about 2 to 12% on their purchases from retailers such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and others. This type of resource will help the family reduce the amount of the bills they incur during the holidays. Click here for cash back shopping apps.
As a last resort, but comes with risks/downside, if you would rather obtain a loan or a line of credit in order to do your Christmas shopping, (which is never recommended) there are some options. The loans can help them get Christmas toys, but be cautious in doing this as consider interest payments, monthly costs and other downsides to a loan. Note this approach should generally be a last resort.
- Free, zero interest loan programs do exist. Interest free money can be provided from a number of sources, ranging from churches to community action agencies. This is in addition to any free Christmas toys they will provide from their holiday programs. The funds can be used to pay for Christmas gifts, help parents pay bills or obtain presents, and can address other financial obligations. Read more about free loans.
- Buy now pay later installment loans is a way for people to get interest free money to buy stuff now (including Christmas toys). Borrowers can pay for the stuff, usually interest free, over the course of weeks. It is similar to layaway or a 0% credit card. BNPL is used by many people to pay for holiday items, including toys or gifts for a kid. There are also Buy Now - Pay Later plans for people with bad credit or a low income to increase the number of options available. Find no credit check buy now pay later apps.
Need additional help finding programs for free Christmas presents?
There are other holiday toy and free Christmas programs available for struggling families and they are listed across this website. Or send an email request to [email protected]. Be sure to include your state. As there are a number of agencies that may provide free toys, gift cards, presents for kids and other help at Christmas.
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