10 Places to Get Free Christmas Gifts

Christmas can sometimes leave a sense of sadness, especially if you don’t have money in the budget for gifts. Luckily, there are several places for free Christmas gifts for those in need.

All of the places listed here offer free Christmas gifts. 

1. United Way

The United Way can help you get free Christmas gifts either by helping directly or by connecting you with organizations in your area that can help.

United Way or their partner organizations may offer free Christmas gifts, free winter clothing, free food and more.

2. Dream Foundation

The Dream Foundation works to help families who have lost or are in the process of losing a loved one due to a terminal illness. 

Qualified recipients include residents of the U.S. and Puerto Rico with a life expectancy of 12 months or less who do not have the funds to provide for their dream on their own. 

3. USPS Operation Santa

The United States Postal Service’s Operation Santa program began in 1912. Over 100 years later, the USPS still works to coordinate helping families and kids who need Christmas gifts. 

4. Toys for Tots

The Marine Corps Toys for Tots program has been in existence since 1947. Started by Maj. Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane, the organization distributed over 5,000 toys that first year.

You may qualify to get gifts from the program if:

• You have children through age 18 who are still in school
• You’re the custodial parent of your children
• The children live at the address provided
• Your children would not have any gifts this year if it weren’t for provision from Toys for Tots

5. Family Giving Tree

Family Giving Tree has been in existence for over 30 years and supports people in need of free Christmas gifts if they live in the Bay area. This organization works with over 300 social service agencies in the San Francisco Bay area.

6. Salvation Army’s Angel Tree

The Salvation Army is a charitable organization that was founded in 1865. The charity’s Angel Tree program works to provide free Christmas gifts for those in need. 

You’ll have to visit the Angel Tree website to find out if there is a location in your area and if you qualify for the free Christmas gifts. 

7. Operation Homefront Holiday Toy Drive

You can contact Operation Homefront if you are a military (or veteran) family in need of free Christmas gifts. 

Operation Homefront was established over a decade ago for the purpose of strengthening and supporting military families. 

 8. Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree

Prison Fellowship is a ministry that helps to restore the criminal justice system and those it affects.

One of the branches of the organization’s restoration goal lies in its Angel Tree ministry. Angel Tree Ministry provides gifts for children of incarcerated men and women, including Christmas gifts. 

9. Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Boys and Girls Clubs of America has chapters throughout the United States. Some of those chapters provide Christmas gifts through their Kids Can Give program. 

10. Santa’s Little Helpers

Santa’s Little Helpers is an online community through Reddit that organizes free Christmas gifts for kids in need.