Tis the Season. Christmas Assistance in Toledo, 2014

Once again, it's nearly time to apply for Christmas assistance wherever you live in the country. In Toledo, the Salvation Army will start taking applications in person on October 6th at their office on Erie Street.  For more information, see their website.

In Detroit, the Goodfellows are already accepting applications for Detroit, Highland Park, River Rouge, and Harper Woods, per their website: https://www.detroitgoodfellows.org/application.html. 

 

Toledo Free Christmas Meals 2013

The Toledo Catholic Diocese finally came up with their list of free holiday meals for 2013. In the Cleveland and northeast Ohio area, there is this list of free Christmas meals.  For sites of meals near you, try 211 in your area, or check the 211 website under the heading "Holiday Meals."

Where to Donate Toys in Toledo, and How to Hook Up With Toys for Poor Children

Checking our stats, we see that people are still looking for help for Christmas, but also that they are looking for places to drop off toys for children.  The Toledo Blade had a nice roundup of where to drop off toys at this late date. 

Also, here's how to find dropoff spots for Toys for Tots, the U.S. Marine's program. Toledo's local Hope for the Holidays is still taking toys till December 20th. 

But what if you are in need?  In Toledo, call 211 to be put in touch with groups that might still be taking applications.  If you live in another area with a 211 information and referral service, try calling them.  Also try the Salvation Army, which is the Christmas Clearinghouse for a lot of communities.  Try your local church, which may be running a program or know of who is.  If you live in Detroit, check out this great listing from Julie's List.  Here's hoping next year is brighter for you.

Holiday Assistance for 2013 in Toledo, Detroit and How to Look Elsewhere

The Salvation Army for northwest Ohio has already announced the dates and times at which people in Lucas, Wood and Ottawa county can apply for holiday assistance for 2013.  People in the know are aware that the time to think about holiday assistance is now--many agencies that function as "Christmas clearinghouses" gear up in the early fall.  Of course, Julie's List for southeast Michigan and metro Detroit has a holiday help listing that really shows how it's done.

So you may want to start identifying the Christmas clearinghouse agency in your town. That's the agency that coordinates holiday gift and toy services, so that they are spread around equitably. If your community has 211 services, you might want to start asking there.    Another good place to start asking is the local Salvation Army   They might not be the clearinghouse for your town, but they will know who is.  The Toys for Tots Foundation has a searchable database that lets you put in your zip code to tell you where to apply in or near your town. 

Free Christmas Meals in Toledo, 2012

Once again, thanks to the Diocese of Toledo, we have a list of locations and times for free Christmas week meals in the Toledo area.  Some are a week ahead of Christmas itself. 

If you live in other locations, call 211 if you have that service in your area, or try calling a local church.

Salvation Christmas Assistance in Toledo 2012

****The newest: Salvation Army in Toledo will take applications for Christmas assistance on Tuesday, November 13th at 620 Erie Street from 9-11 and 1-3 p.m.  Bring proof of income for all living under your roof, and birth certificates for kids 14 and under. For more information, call (419) 241-1138.  *****

If you can't make that, call 211 and ask about Christmas assistance, but do it as soon as possible.  If you live in other parts of the country, call 211 (if you have that service), or your local Salvation Army.  You can also use this website to put in a request from the U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots Foundation.  You might also google the name of your town or county with the phrase "Christmas clearing house," (put it in quotes), to identify the agency the is in charge of coordinating Christmas assistance. 

Updated Christmas Gift News for the Needy. And Suggestions for Others.

For people in Toledo, Ohio who have missed the deadline for applying to the Salvation Army for Christmas assistance this season, there will be another sign-up at the downtown Salvation Army offices (620 N. Erie Street) on November 29th,  ONE DAY ONLY, from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. However, call 211 to get more updated information. *** 211 is the central number to call to find out about Christmas assistance in the Toledo area.  If you are past the deadline, call 211 and find out what else may be available.***

In metro Detroit, the Salvation Army is signing people up for Christmas assistance for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Applications will be accepted Nov. 7 through Dec. 9.   For more information, call 248 443 5500.

 ***However, many communities are acting to help people within their own borders.  For a complete and up-to-date rundown, see the Facebook entry for Julie's List, or check out the webpage.***  Also, Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan is reaching out to families in need this Hanakkah season.  If you wish to give, or are in need, call (248) 661-5700. 

In general, try the Salvation Army near your home to find out more about Christmas assistance in your area, or  try calling 211 if you live in an area that has 211 telephone assistance.

More Stuff on Christmas Gifts for Needy in Northwest Ohio, Monroe County

The Toledo Blade had a roundup of Christmas assistance programs for the Toledo area.   In Toledo, the Salvation Army will be taking applications from 9 a.m. till 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. till 3 p.m. all this week for a food box and toys. This is the last week!  It will be at their offices on 620 N. Erie in Toledo.

In Monroe County, the Salvatation Army will take applications through November 23 at the Monroe office 815 E. First Street, (734-241-0440) and their Temperance office at 7200 Lewis Avenue (734-241-7182).  In Bowling Green, the Salvation Army will begin taking applications on October 31st at 1045 N. Main from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  For more information and possible sign-ups, call 211, the human services emergency number at United Way. 

Where to Find Places That Give Needy Children Christmas Gifts

You're probably wondering why I'm writing this in late September.  Really, am I getting like Costco, that has Christmas stuff up already?  No, I just know what I know--that the Christmas clearing houses (or Christmas coordinating councils) start to gear up in October.  These are the local organizations that coordinate charity work for the poor during the Christmas season.  They take applications, vet people for eligibility, and try to get them in touch with other organizations that collect food, clothing, and toys so that the poor have a decent Christmas. 

That means that if you think you will need their help, you should probably try around the middle of October, through the middle of November.  But how do you know where to go?  Veteran poor people know how to navigate the system, but the Great Recession has created people that don't know the ropes, and try climbing the ropes too late to get much help.  This goes for holiday help, heating help, or just about anything.  If you think you need the help of one of these organizations this year, here's how to start--hopefully, not too close to the holidays:

In the Toledo area, call 211 for holiday food and gifts, and the United Way will send you to the appropriate agency. The regional Toys for Tots number for northwest Ohio is 419 666-6992. They note at the Toys for Tots website that you may be eligible to receive food at one organization, and toys at another, but not the same type of charity aid from more than one organization.

First, the biggest organization of this sort in the U.S. is the Salvation Army.  Their local branches often function as the CCH's in their communities.  You can go to their website and enter your zip code in the search box to find the nearest one.  They may have a formal intake procedure and invite you to come and fill out some forms.  Another way to search for a local organization is to put "christmas clearing house" or "christmas coordinating council" and the name of your town in Google.  Another is to call 211, IF you live in an area where you can find social services by dialing 211.  Find out by searching at this website.  Another organization that gives toys to children is Toys for Tots.  Their page has a website to help you find your local branch.  Another way to find help is a nearby church, which is probably working with a local Christmas clearing house.