With the holidays around the corner, many non-profits are gearing up to organize free toy distribution programs to ensure that the 2023 holiday season stays joyful for struggling families. Here’s a list of some organizations that are distributing free toys to needy kids this holiday season in the Des Moines area. Note that deadlines are fast approaching, so be sure to reach out early if you need a little help this year.
If you aren’t struggling and want your family to start a tradition of giving, pick an organization to reach out to and ask how you can help those in need. Please contact each of the organizations directly to sign up or donate to the programs.
Here are the organizations distributing free toys to kids this holiday season in Des Moines:
Ankeny Service Center
The Community Holiday Assistance Program provides gifts and holiday meal cards to families in Ankeny. Families must complete an application for the Community Holiday Assistance Program by November 15, 2023. To sponsor a family visit the organization’s website and fill out an on-line form. They also accept monetary donations.
Bidwell Riverside Center
Building Hope for the Holidays! Bidwell’s Holiday Toy Panty will be happening once again this year. Families must sign up in advance to attend the event. Watch their website for registration information. Find ways to donate to the Toy Drive here.
Children & Families of Iowa
Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) is helping to spread holiday cheer by assisting families in need through a few different gift giving programs. Their clients can participate in their Adopt-A-Family program, Holiday Shop or Toy Room. They provide several ways you can donate to their holiday programs on their website.
Cops 4 Kids
In December, children within the Southeast Polk Community School District will have the opportunity to shop with a uniformed Altoona and Pleasant Hill police officer for Christmas gifts. Both police departments will be accepting donations to assist with this program through November 30, 2023.
Johnston Partnership
The Johnston Partnership, in cooperation with the Johnston Community School District, provides a gift card for households with school-aged kids who see more hardship than joy at the holiday season. Families interested in enrolling should contact your JCSD school office or counseling staff for more information. Donations can be made in person, mailed or on-line.
Mentor Iowa
Mentor Iowa hosts an Adopt-a-Family program each year and will do so again this holiday season. If you are interested in adopting a child in their program please contact Marty Lester at (515) 277-9797 or marty@mentoriowa.org.
St. Vincent De Paul
St. Vincent de Paul, in partnership with Toys for Tots, is excited to bring Operation Santa Claus back again this year. They will deliver over 12,000 toys to Des Moines kids. You can make a donation to the organization on-line.
The Salvation Army of Des Moines
Each year dozens of businesses in the Des Metro metro serve as Angel Tree locations to ensure that thousands of children have gifts to open on Christmas Day. Donors can pick a tag with a child’s age, gender and suggested gift item, purchase a gift and then return the unwrapped gift to the Angel Tree location, where it will be donated to The Salvation Army and distributed.
Toys for Tots
The 2023 Des Moines Toys for Tots Campaign is underway. They collect toys and then distribute them to area organizations to distribute to families in need. Toys can be donated at local drop sites or you can donate on-line. Find a list of organization’s to request toys from here.
Urbandale Community Action Network
Urbandale residents in need are eligible to sign up for UCAN’s Basic Needs Baskets, Adopt-a-Family program or Holiday Baskets this holiday season. Pre-registration for these programs is required. You can donate to these programs by dropping off items or donating on-line.
Waukee Area Christian Services
Holiday Dinner Boxes and Gifts for Kids are available to qualified residents in the Waukee School District. Online registration is required. Blessing Trees can be found at local schools and churches. Pick an item from the tree and return it to the location. You can also donate to the organization on-line.
West Des Moines Human Services
WDM Human Services offers several holiday assistance programs to qualifying residents of West Des Moines. Income guidelines apply. Registration is open for the holiday assistance programs October 2 through November 30, 2023. Find out all the ways you can donate here.
Additional Holiday Assistance Resources
- United Way 2-1-1 can refer you to organizations providing holiday assistance.
- Many programs offer sign up through your child’s school.
- Local churches can be good resources to tap. Many help families in need for the holidays.
- Thrift Stores, Facebook Market Place, Craigslist, Goodwill are great places to to find low-cost or free second-hand toys.
- Local chapters of the Lion’s Club and other similar service focused groups often host toy drives.
- Food pantries offering holiday meals to families sometimes stock small toys for children.
What did we miss? Let us know of a non-profit organization in the Des Moines area helping bring a little holiday joy to kids and families!
