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The Empty Stocking Fund, through a combination of toy drives and the generosity of local businesses, has been providing gifts to Atlanta's underprivileged children during the holidays since 1927.
Angels with Faith Ministries is a small, not-for-profit organization that provides services to families in need during the holiday, including gifts, holiday gift cards and a Sponsor-A-Family program.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am a single mother of 3 boys living on a fixed income with no support from Dad. I recently moved to Georgia and don't know what to do to get help around here. My 2 year old has cerebral palsy among other health issues. Every bit of extra money I get goes right back out in trips to Atlanta to the neurologist. Right now I have one toy a piece for my boys and it's looking like that's all they will get. Please point me in the direction to get help for my babies. Thank you so much!
By Chasity G
So sorry for your situation. Are you looking for medical help or Christmas help or both? Georgia has a healthcare program for children called PeachCare For Kids.
There is a lot of help out there for children on Christmas, but you have to put your request in soon, don't procrastinate till December or it will be too late.
C.J. is right about the Toys for Tots, however most of the places that do things like that are past the deadline for taking applications. As far as the Angel Trees go, the only way you get to have a name on them is if some organization puts them on. You can't just go to the store and ask them to put a name on it.
The trees put up for various charities. Not all of them are for little kids, some are specifically for teens and some are for senior citizens in nursing homes that have no family.
As far as churches doing gifts for kids the only one I have heard of is the Salvation Army and where I live, their deadline was a week ago. Other churches might do it for needy members of their congregation. There isn't anything wrong with kids only receiving one gift each, that is all any kid needs and that is all each one of my kids got and we were fairly comfortable.
Chasity,
Were you able to find help? If not, I know some places that will help even at the last minute. Just let me know.
Thanks, Amber
I'm a mother of 2 year old twin girls. We have had a rough year and are just barely getting by. Now Christmas is around the corner and if I don't find some help for their Christmas then they won't have one.
I know a lot of charities have already stopped for signing up. I have never had to ask for help so I wasn't sure on the dates. If anyone has any info on anyone or charities that would help it would be greatly appreciated. We live in Calhoun, GA.
How or where might I receive last minute help with my daughter's Christmas? I am so upset and distraught right now and I do not know what to do. I am a mother of a 6 year old, who will be 7 on Christmas day and we have had a rough year. I am not gonna be able to afford Christmas for my daughter this year which is also her birthday.
We live in Palmetto GA, and I just do not know where to turn to. Does anyone know where I might could receive help getting my daughter's Christmas?I had a stroke a year ago. Please tell me where I can find help for Christmas. My son is 15 and my daughter is 13. I also need help with some food. Thank you and God bless.
By Lisa
Your kids are old enough to understand, if you can't get them anything for Christmas. Most of the charities that help with Christmas have an age cut off limit of 12 years. They have to do that for budget reasons. You have known that Christmas was coming for several months and could have bought one item a month. It doesn't have to be expensive things; kids don't need electronic things or clothes with designer names. If you had started earlier, WalMart always has quite nice t-shirts for less than $10.00. Sometimes you can even find CDs and DVDs in the bargain bins.
When you say you need help with food, do you mean on a permanent basis or just for Christmas? There is a difference. If you qualify income wise you could more than likely get food stamps. If you need help with food on a permanent basis, call your nearest Social Services Office, and they will be able to figure out if you qualify for food stamps.
For help with food on a temporary basis, call different churches, because sometimes churches have a means to help with things like that. If there is a Salvation Army where you live, sometimes they will help with food, however, if there is a Food Pantry of some type, that is where you will have to go there. Food Pantries operated differently depending on where you live. Where I live you have to have a referral from a pastor, social worker or something like that. You can also go there only every three to six months, and maybe get a months worth of groceries. That is the way it works here.
Do you have a church of your own, it should help if you do and talk to the pastor of that church. Sometimes they will take up an anonymous special offering to help a needy family. However, your kids must have grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. that will be giving them gifts.
Also you must have some source of income, even if it is a small amount. If you had planned ahead you could have eaked out a small amount of money every month for gifts. I have been done with my shopping for six months.
My family and I are looking to help a couple of families for the Thanksgiving holiday right now. We have a basket with food if you would like it let me know and I can take it to this charity that's hosting this site and you can pick it up from there.
I am on disability and have 2 children, ages 12 and 6. I have no means to provide them with Christmas gifts and I was wondering if you are aware of anyone that may be able to assist me. Thank you for your time and God Bless.
By Carol Manning from Atlanta, GA
Most places that help have income guidelines, and I have worked in non-profit place several years ago and people that came in asking for help were amazed that the income guidelines were so low, and these people were way above the guidelines and thought they were hardup. I'm sure your kids would be satisfied with one small gift each. I start shopping for my two daughters and four grandkids in January, that is the only way I can afford to do it.
The charities that you may want to check out in your neck of the woods are Salvation Army and Toys for tots. In our area (Wisconsin), Salvation army will probably do an adopt a family program. Your and your kids names will be hung as an ornament on a Christmas tree in a nearby mall. someone will pick your name and then buy presents for your family, get food for the family and get Christmas decorations/tree for the family. Many people have benefited from the program. I do not know if Georgia Salvation Armys do this exact same program but it doesn't hurt to ask. Also many food pantries in your neighborhood will probably provide the fixings for a Christmas dinner. Some charities will probably do a Christmas meal on Christmas day. I knew of one pantry that told people to cut down the trees on their property and use em as Christmas trees one year.
Like I said before, it doesn't hurt to investigate or ask around. Good luck and I hope your holiday dreams come true for you and your family.
I have volunteered for a national charity called Love, INC. They have branches all over the country. Please click on this link and then click on your state and contact one near you. They will be happy to help you!
www.loveinc.org/
If there is not one in your exact city, call them anyway. They have many connections to other organizations who can and will help.
I live in georgia and am having difficulty too. I would suggest toys for tots which you can actually request toys on their website also salvation army or united way. when i called the salvation army they said they take their request in the first week of October and believe most charities take theirs around the same time so You actually have to plan to sign up a few months before Christmas in order to really get help. Just to let you know for next year to start signing up in september or october before christmas at those places.
Angels with Faith Ministries 501c3 non-profit charity announces the kickoff of our Christmas Angels Program on November 1st through which we provide Christmas to 100s of area children who would not otherwise have anything under the tree on Christmas morning.
Since we receive no funding we rely strictly on the tax deductible donations of our community & this year we expect over 1000 children. We have volunteers to pickup donated toys (new& lightly used), bikes, baby needs, gifts for older children, warm clothing, food for holiday baskets, computers, laptops & other electronics such as mp3 players, ipods, tablets, etc. Donations can also be made via paypal on our website: angelswithfaithministries.beep.com
We are hosting a 1 day Christmas Angels festival & Toy drive fundraiser event at Jug tavern Park & Pavilion on December 1st from 7 am until 7 pm. We have live music being played all day by local groups country, gospel & Christmas music, free moonwalks, facepainting & of course Santa for the kids. A Cutest Kids contest (everyone is welcome to enter those cute kids see details on our website) with the grand prize being donated by Disney World Orlando, games, a bake sale (donations needed by November 30th please), silent auctions for authentic autographed Nascar, music & sports legends, raffles all day for those who donate new toys, bikes (new or lightly used), food, gift cards, or by credit card, check or cash for every donation you will receive a raffle ticket for these drawings to be held every 30 minutes for great prizes donated by area merchants.
We will also have our Angel Tree from which you can choose a family or families to adopt or sponsor for Christmas & choose to meet & work with that family personally or through us. All donations are tax deductible & 100% of all donations go directly to providing Christmas gifts, warm clothing & holiday food baskets to Georgia children. Please come out & show your support & love for Georgia's littlest angels! Applications for Christmas assistance available through DFCS & also children's hospital, disabled military groups, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, etc & can also be emailed to us here after November 1st. You must live in Georgia, have a true financial need for assistance & you must not be receiving Christmas help from anywhere else, we will check.
If you are a vendor & would like to reserve a spot to sell your arts & crafts, Christmas items, etc. please call asap deadline is November 22nd we have 15 spots available for a $25 donation you can have a spot for the busiest shopping weekend of the month. You must provide your own tables & all vendors must remember that we are a Christian charity so no profanity, etc. will be sold.
Lori, director 678-754-1541/Rev Michael Tuck 678-754-2337 volunteers Avis 678-887-1988 Vickie 770-990-4579
email angelswithfaithministriesgeorgia AT yahoo.com
I am a grandmother of 52 years of age. I am currently raising my four beautiful grandbabies. Brooklynn age 1 month, Bricetin age 3, Brieanna age 4, and Brendon 8. I have no transportation to get my babies to appointments, however I am thankful enough to have a government funded apt. I have no child support that I am receiving on any of the children at this time, therefor making our lives very difficult.
I see at this time no hope for even a small Christmas. That is why at this time I am begging on my hands and knees for anyone, anywhere to please find it in your hearts to please help me to provide some help with my babies Christmas. We would be so thankful from the bottom of our hearts. So please take my angels into consideration, it takes so little to make a child so happy. Thank you.
By Margie H. from Rome, GA
Call 211, it is a national Helpline that keeps a list of agencies that provide different types of help for people. The Salvation Army usually provides Christmas help, but in some area of the country they along with other charities band together and form one large organization for providing Christmas help. Where I live that is where 211 comes in handy.
Do you have a social worker, if so they should be able to give you ideas of where to get help. Also ask the pastor of your church if there is any way the church could help. However, all any kid needs is one gift, each. Also you could go to a dollar store and get each one a little gift. A color book and a 8 count box of crayons could be wrapped individually and make two gifts for a child.
For the younger ones use scraps of fabric and make simple stuffed bears. You could probably get scraps of fabric from friends. One year I made a stuffed lamb for my oldest daughter using a free pattern out of magazine and for fabric I used a pretty flowered bath towel that we had received for a wedding present. All I had to buy was the stuffing and I used old buttons for eyes that I made sure were sewed on really good. For regular fabric types you could use a permanent marker to draw on eyes, nose and mouth.
All we have ever given our kids, even now that they are in their 40s is one gift each, and that applies to our grandkids who range in age from 15-25 years. I have never spent more than $20.00 each on them. If I find a $20.00 item on sale for $20-15.00, it still counts as a $20.00 item. I also start shopping in January and have been done for at least a month. I have to plan ahead to do Christmas.
I'm interested in sponsoring your family. Please write me a list for each child with needs and then wants. Please email them to macy9301@hotmail.com. Do you have a christmas dinner?
I live in Rome, Georgia and over the last two years I have been through some things and it has affected my health and my doctor wanted me to take it easy so with the pay from my job, it's not much money after I pay bills. So I was wanting to know who do I contact for a little help with Christmas this year. My neighbors said some places help, but they couldn't remember when they do start helping.
Thanks.
This year has been really tough for our family we have been through a total of 4 deaths. It's been a struggle for us to get back on our feet. We have a 9 year old daughter who's expecting Christmas. I have done everything possible to try to make it happen and I'm still not going to give up, but I'm thinking we need a little extra.
We live in the White, Georgia area. If anyone knows any organizations that are helping this year I am praying I'm not too late.I'm a single mother with two boys, ages 4 and 13. I need help with Christmas. We live in Carnesville.
I'm in desperate need of help with food and Christmas assistance for my daughter.
By Kevin from Columbus, GA
Most of the charities that provide Christmas help have a cut off date for taking applications of mid-November and that is to allow for budgeting. They also have age cut off limits of 12-13 years, and you didn't say how old your daughter is. You should be able to go without something for yourself and spare $5.00 to buy some type of little gift.
If you have a social worker through the Department of Social Services speak to that person and see if they have any ideas. Also speak to your pastor, sometimes they will take up a special offering for a needy member of the congregation. That will have to be done immediately because this coming Sunday is the last Sunday before Christmas. As far as food goes make arrangements to go to your local food pantry and get some food. It might not be what would make a typical holiday meal, but it would be better than nothing.
I am a 30 year old single mother of four children (boy age 13, boy age 6, girl age 11,and a girl ag:4). We just moved from Omaha, Nebraska to Douglasville, Georgia, approximately 1 1/2 months ago. I have my nursing assistant certificate and I have been desperately seeking employment. It's been a struggle, but I have God to help me thru each forthcoming hardship!
I am awaiting child care assistance also for my stay at home 4year old. I do not have any funds, friends, or family here, and I am in great need of help with providing a Christmas for my children. It's saddening to the core of my heart, to not be able to provide a tree, decorations, and/or a gift for my children. My family and I could truly use help. Rather it's a toy per/child or prayer, it would be our Christmas blessing. Prayer is always welcome, through prayer blessings and great things occur. May God bless us all. Happy holidays to all!
By Ilicia n. from Omaha, NE
The charities that provide Christmas help are the same nationwide and they have cut off dates for taking applications of mid-November. You might have to get two part time jobs flipping burgers or in retail or something. Where are you living without any income? Won't the kid's grandparents, aunts and uncles send them gifts? I assume you have a social worker at your local Department of Social Services talk to that person and see if they know of any help. Also talk to your pastor, sometimes they take up an anonymous offering to help a needy member of the Congregation.
I have kids ages 6, 11, 13, and 14. I really need help getting Christmas! Where can I go in or near Rome, Georgia?
By JW from Rome, GA
Most of the organizations that provide Christmas help have a age cut off limit of 12-13 years. The younger ones might be able to get help from the local Salvation Army or Toys for Tots. I don't know how the Toys for Tots program works in order to be considered. The last I heard at the Salvation Army you had to fill out an application.
WalMart always has decent t-shirts for no more than $10.00 each for the older kids and no kid needs more than one gift, for they can also make do with a t-shirt or for real young kids a coloring book and eight count size of crayons.
There are all kinds of inexpensive items a person can buy ahead of time, one thing a month. I live off $700 a month total retirement income and buy gifts for my two adult kids, four adult grandkids, two year old great grandson, two sisters, an aunt and a cousin. I spend $20.00 each and I have been done with my shopping for about six months. If I find a $20.00 items on sale for less and I know it is something a person wants or can use, I get it and count it as a $20.00 item. Buying one item a month is the only way I can do it.
There are times I get started for the next Christmas before the Christmas I am done shopping for. If you are this hard up you must have a social worker, if so talk to that person and see if they know where you can receive help. Also if you attend Church talk to your pastor, sometimes they will take up an anonymous free will offering to help a member of the church.
I need help this year for Christmas for my 2 teenagers. Their dad can not afford to get them anything. We live in a hotel in Newnan, Georgia. If someone knows where I could get help please let me know.
By LN
Most agencies that do Christmas help, have a cut off age of 12 years. Teenagers are old enough to understand that times are hard. Also there isn't a kid alive that needs more than one gift from each person. Don't your kids have grandparents, aunts, and uncles that give them gifts? If you attend a church talk to the pastor, sometimes they will take up an anonymous offering to help people. Living in a motel how do you provide meals for your family? You could try the Salvation Army, they might make an exception for age, but I don't know for sure.
I am a 26 year old single mother of a 6 year old boy. Jeremiah is in the second grade, but reads on a 6th grade level. He is very smart. I lost my good job on 06/13/13 and was denied unemployment. I lost my job due to a lie. I don't have the proper funds to give him a Christmas, but I trust God. Jeremiah's father is not involved and does not help. I am reaching out to ask for help. Where can I find Christmas help in Newnan Georgia? Thank you and God bless.
By Latoya from Newnan, GA
Go to the Salvation Army, they are in all areas, maybe not actually in your town, but nearby. Also there is Toys for Tots. Do you have any case managers with Social Services, if you do they might know of more organizations in your area.
Kids don't need a lot of gifts. You can sometimes find decent things in the various types of dollar stores. Thrift stores also have some new items donated, and some things that are used but in like new condition.
I have a friend that is in real need of Christmas for her children and I need to find out how to help her by finding an organization out there to help. I would help, but I do not have the funds to. She has 3 children and their father is not doing anything to help with them. The last 2 Christmases she has not been able to buy them anything and I mean nothing.
I feel so bad for her and need help trying to help her because it breaks my heart watching her work her butt off. The only thing I am able to help her with is clothes for her kids. Please can anyone help me because I can't seem to find anything. I found Salvation Army but can't find a phone number.By Katie W.
If there is a Salvation Army in your area they have to be listed in the phone book. However, your friend will have to go in and apply for help, not you. There is Toys for Tots, and others. That being said, there again I think there is paperwork to be filled out and probably income guidelines.
Most of the organizations that help with Christmas do have an age limit of 12 years. However, your friend could do some shopping every month all year. I have been doing that since my first got married in 1964. Buy one thing a month, and I know she can do that, even if it is only from a dollar store.
Also there are times you can get brand new stuff at thrift stores, even used things that are in excellent condition. Doesn't your friend have any family members that give gifts to her kids? Basically all any kid needs is one gift from the parents, and maybe one from each of the siblings.
Depending on the age of the kids for little kids a color book and 16 count box of crayons would be enough and they could be wrapped as two separate gifts. These items wouldn't have to be brand name ones. As far as that goes no kid needs to receive electronics or brand name clothes.
I have no money or help with my 4, 1, and 2 month old kids. My 4yr old is disabled. Can you please give me ideas as to where I can get help on food, clothes, shoes, and toys? I am on a very low income.
By JP from Atlanta, GA
Most of the charities that do things like that have a cut off date of right around Thanksgiving for applications. Examples: the Salvation Army, Toys For Tots, etc. At thrift stores you can usually find some real nice things, some of them are even brand new, for very little money. There are also dollar stores. Each kid only needs one gift. Talk to the pastor of your church, they will usually take up a special anonymous offering for somebody in their church.
The older ones would be satisfied with a coloring book and crayons, these items could be wrapped separately and make two gifts. Also there must be grandparents, aunts and uncles that would be giving them gifts. Next year buy one item a month and put them away for Christmas. Kids don't need the latest styles and fancy electronic stuff. You can try the Salvation Army, they might be able to help you, especially with free clothing. I know where I live they are advertising on newscasts that they are short of gifts for the names that they have.
Is there anybody that can help me and my fiance get assistance with Christmas for 4 girls from 9-15? Also any help with food would really be helpful as well. Thank you and God bless. Merry Christmas.
By Kevin from Columbus, GA
I am 38 years old and on disability due to a heart condition. Among other things I've been in an out of hospital 10 times this year. I have three teenage girls and a grandbaby. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital the first of November and, as soon as, I was released I got a call my dad died unexpectedly. Needless to say I missed my window of opportunity to get help with Christmas. This is the first year I have needed help for Christmas.
I don't have any family here, so I am scared and lonely. I don't know what to do for food or gifts for my children; not too many people help teenagers. I'm not the kind to ask for help; I am always the one helping. Thank you for listening to just a piece of my story. If anyone knows of anyone that can help us this late please let me know. Thank you.By sonja ream
