Christmas comes with a price tag no matter what year it is, and if you’re already maxing out your budget to afford food, housing, childcare and other essentials, the added cost of gifts can feel insurmountable.
Fortunately, there are organizations across Arizona that offer Christmas toy giveaways, Angel Tree programs, Adopt-a-Family programs and other forms of holiday help for families in need.
Don’t wait until December to sign up. Some Arizona Christmas assistance programs open registration as early as September or October, and some close registration once they’ve reached capacity.
We’ve compiled a list of 2026 holiday assistance programs across Arizona with important registration dates, eligibility requirements and information on where to apply.
We’ll continue to add to this list as more organizations announce their 2026 registration dates.
Statewide: USPS Operation Santa
USPS Operation Santa is a national program, but Arizona families can participate from anywhere in the state. Unlike many holiday assistance programs, there isn’t an income requirement or traditional application process. Instead, kids and families write letters to Santa, and those letters may be anonymously adopted by individuals who choose to fulfill their wishes.
Letters are being accepted through: December 5, 2026
Letter adoption begins: November 16, 2026
Last day to send a letter: December 5, 2026
Letters should be addressed to:
Santa Claus
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888
Be sure to include the sender’s full name and complete return address in the upper-left corner of the envelope and add postage.
USPS removes personal identifying information before letters are posted for potential adoption. Keep in mind that sending a letter does not guarantee it will be adopted or that gifts will be received.
Metro Phoenix: Salvation Army Christmas Angel
The Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel program brings Christmas gifts to children in need throughout Metro Phoenix.
2026 registration opens: October 1, 2026
Christmas assistance registration is set to open October 1, according to the Salvation Army. Additional registration information is available through its Christmas Angel program.
The Metro Phoenix Salvation Army office is located at 2707 E. Van Buren St. in Phoenix. Call 602-267-4100 for more information.
Salvation Army Metro Phoenix Christmas Assistance
RAK tip: Apply as soon as you can. Assistance programs may have limited spots available, so don’t count on waiting until closer to Christmas to sign up.
Tucson: Salvation Army Christmas Toy Assistance
The Salvation Army distributes toys to more than 4,000 kids from about 1,500 Tucson-area families each year through its Christmas assistance program.
2026 pre-registration: November 1-12, or while supplies last
The program is for kids ages 12 and younger. Families receive one ticket that covers all eligible children in the household. The ticket includes instructions for meeting with a case manager and completing the next steps.
Pre-registration is available at the following Tucson Salvation Army locations:
- Hospitality House, 1002 N. Main Ave.
- Amphi Corps Community Center, 218 E. Prince Rd.
- South Corps Community Center, 1625 S. 3rd Ave.
- Temple/Korean Corps Community Center, 1001 N. Richey Blvd.
Families can also call the automated Christmas assistance line at 520-792-1629 for more information about ticket distribution.
Tucson Christmas Toy Assistance Information
Cochise County: Toys for Tots
Registration opens: October 1, 2026
Family toy request deadline: December 1, 2026
Children receiving toy assistance must live in Cochise County. Families can submit an Individual and Family Toy Request online or pick up a paper application.
The campaign serves communities throughout Cochise County, including Sierra Vista, Huachuca City, Whetstone, Hereford, Palominas, Tombstone, Douglas, Willcox, Bisbee, Elfrida and Pearce.
The main Toys for Tots warehouse is located at 905 S. El Camino Real in Sierra Vista. Families with questions can call the Cochise County coordinator at 520-678-2936.
Scottsdale: Vista del Camino Adopt-a-Family
Scottsdale’s Vista del Camino Community Center hosts an Adopt-a-Family program that provides gifts, food, clothing and other necessities to families in need during the holidays.
2026 applications opened: September 4
Applications are available online through the City of Scottsdale. The program serves Scottsdale families in need, and the Christmas gift portion is listed through Arizona 211 for families with kids ages 2-17.
Since applications are already open, Scottsdale families who need assistance should apply now rather than waiting until closer to the holidays.
Apply for Scottsdale Adopt-a-Family Assistance
Chandler: Chandler CARE Center Holiday Toy Assistance
Important: 2026 registration is already closed.
The Chandler CARE Center accepted applications for its Thanksgiving assistance and December Holiday Toy Giveaway from September 8-25, 2026. The program was open to Chandler and Chandler Unified School District households, with holiday toy assistance available for kids from birth through age 18. Families were required to register in advance.
If you missed the cutoff date, call the Chandler CARE Center at 480-812-7900 to ask whether there’s a waitlist or if staff can refer you to another holiday assistance program in the area.
Families can also call 211 Arizona for additional holiday assistance options.
East Valley: Catholic Charities Emergency Santa
Catholic Charities Community Services runs its Emergency Santa program through the CARE Campus in Mesa.
The program provides Christmas gifts to children from low-income families. Catholic Charities says Emergency Santa serves roughly 2,700 youth each year. Parents who receive gifts through the program are asked to give back by volunteering in the community.
2026 registration dates have not yet been announced publicly.
Families interested in the program can contact the Catholic Charities CARE Campus:
466 S. Bellview, Mesa
480-833-8987
Catholic Charities CARE Campus and Emergency Santa
Because 2026 application dates haven’t been announced yet, we recommend calling before heading there specifically for holiday assistance.
Phoenix Area: St. Vincent de Paul Adopt-a-Family
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers Christmas assistance to families who need help providing gifts and a holiday meal.
Unlike programs with one central registration location, families seeking assistance through St. Vincent de Paul should contact the local volunteer-run St. Vincent de Paul conference that serves their neighborhood. Each location has its own service boundaries and availability.
Find Christmas Assistance Through St. Vincent de Paul
Since individual chapters operate independently and assistance is limited, families should contact their local chapter early.
Foster, Kinship and Guardianship Families: The Foster Alliance
The Foster Alliance provides holiday gifts to Arizona kids and young adults in foster, kinship and guardianship care, ages 0-21.
Eligible caregivers can shop for holiday gifts at The Foster Alliance’s Thunderbird Campus in Phoenix. DCS case specialists and tribal social workers can also pick up prepacked Joy Bags for the children and families they work with.
Families will need appropriate documentation to receive services.
Learn More About The Foster Alliance
Military Families: Operation Homefront Holiday Toy Drive
Operation Homefront’s annual Holiday Toy Drive helps provide holiday gifts to military and veteran families across the country.
The organization partners with Dollar Tree to collect toys and holds holiday distribution events in communities across the U.S. Registration and eligibility depend on the individual event.
Arizona 2026 event and registration information has not yet been announced.
Military and veteran families can check Operation Homefront’s event listings as the holidays get closer to see if an Arizona distribution event is added.
Operation Homefront Holiday Toy Drive
Flagstaff and Tuba City: Salvation Army
The Salvation Army in Flagstaff provides Christmas food boxes and gifts for kids ages 14 and younger for qualifying families in Flagstaff and Tuba City.
2026 Christmas registration dates have not yet been announced.
Families can contact:
The Salvation Army Flagstaff
507 N. Humphreys St., Flagstaff
928-774-1403
Call the location directly for current Christmas assistance information.
Prescott: Salvation Army Christmas Assistance
The Salvation Army in Prescott offers holiday assistance, including children’s gifts, for families in need.
2026 recipient registration dates have not yet been announced.
Families can contact:
The Salvation Army Prescott
231 S. Montezuma St., Prescott
928-778-0150
Call for current eligibility and application information.
Yuma: Salvation Army Christmas Assistance
The Salvation Army in Yuma provides Christmas toys to kids ages 12 and younger through its holiday assistance programs, including Angel Tree.
2026 application dates have not yet been announced publicly.
Families can contact:
The Salvation Army Yuma
445 S. 4th Ave., Yuma
928-783-0181
Call for current registration and eligibility information.
Wickenburg Area: Cops Who Care Santa’s Workshop
Cops Who Care partners with the Wickenburg Community Assistance Program to provide Christmas gifts to kids in the Wickenburg area through its annual Santa’s Workshop.
The program helps more than 200 children each holiday season and serves families in:
- Wickenburg
- Aguila
- Congress
- Morristown
- Circle City
- Wittmann
- Yarnell
Children from newborn through age 17 receive two gifts each.
Applications typically become available at the end of October and remain open until Thanksgiving. Families should confirm the 2026 dates before applying.
Families can contact:
Community Action Program (CAP)
255 N. Washington St., Wickenburg
928-684-7894
Families may be asked to provide proof of residency and documentation showing their children’s ages.
Cops Who Care Santa’s Workshop
Pinal County: Sheriff’s Office HOPE Program
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office operates the HOPE Program, which includes an annual holiday toy drive for local families experiencing hardship.
Deputies and community members collect new toys that are distributed to kids and families in Pinal County during the holiday season.
2026 family assistance information has not yet been announced.
Families can watch for holiday updates from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office as Christmas approaches.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Community Programs
Arizona Elks Lodges: Check With Your Local Lodge
Some Arizona Elks Lodges organize Christmas toy programs or work with local organizations to provide holiday assistance to families in their communities.
Programs vary by lodge, so it’s worth contacting the Elks Lodge closest to you to ask whether it offers Christmas assistance and when families can sign up.
Arizona has Elks Lodges throughout the state, including Phoenix, Tucson, Show Low, Flagstaff, Holbrook, Payson, Prescott, Sierra Vista, Yuma and many other communities.
Tucson: Interfaith Community Services Gifts of Love
Interfaith Community Services’ Gifts of Love program provides holiday gifts for children, teens, and older and disabled adults living alone.
This program works a little differently from open toy-assistance programs. Participating organizations and faith communities nominate recipients, and some people already receiving assistance through ICS may also be eligible to participate.
That means families generally can’t simply sign themselves up through the public gift-adoption portal.
For donors, recipient profiles become available November 2, and the adoption portal closes December 1 at 4 p.m.
Toys for Tots: Other Arizona Communities
Toys for Tots programs are run through individual local campaigns, which means application dates, eligibility requirements and distribution procedures vary depending on where you live.
Families should use the Toys for Tots campaign finder to locate the program serving their area. If your local campaign is accepting individual family requests, its page will include application instructions and deadlines.
Find Your Local Toys for Tots Campaign
Can’t Find a Program in Your City? Call 211 Arizona
Holiday assistance changes quickly, and smaller churches, community organizations, schools, police and fire departments, service organizations and nonprofits may offer help that isn’t widely advertised online.
Arizona 211 maintains a searchable directory of holiday gifts and toy programs, along with food assistance, housing resources and other support for Arizona families.
Search Arizona 211 for Holiday Gifts and Toys
You can also dial 2-1-1 for help finding programs in your area.
If a program has already closed registration, it’s still worth asking whether it has a waitlist or knows of another organization that’s still accepting applications.
No luck yet? Ask Around Locally
Some of the best holiday assistance programs are also the hardest to find online.
Many churches have their own Christmas gift programs for families in their community, and they aren’t always widely advertised. Churches may sponsor families directly, collect toys, host Angel Trees or partner with local schools and organizations to identify families who could use some extra help.
It’s also worth checking with your child’s school counselor or social worker, school district family resource center, Head Start program, local police or sheriff’s department, fire department, Community Action office, Boys & Girls Club, food bank, community center and local service organizations such as Elks, Kiwanis, Rotary or Lions clubs.
Some of these programs never have a big public application period because families are referred directly by schools, social workers or other community organizations.
If you’re having trouble finding Christmas assistance in your area, start making a few calls. Even if an organization doesn’t have a toy program of its own, there’s a good chance they know who does.
Want to Help an Arizona Family This Christmas?
If you’re on the other side of things and looking for a way to help, there are several Arizona programs where you can donate toys or shop for a child this holiday season.
Tucson Salvation Army Angel Tree
The Tucson Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel Tree runs November 19 through December 19, 2026.
Community members can select an Angel and shop for new gifts for a local child. Angel Tree locations include Tucson Mall, Park Place Mall, Tucson Subaru and the Salvation Army Hospitality House.
Tucson Salvation Army Angel Tree
Tucson Fry’s Toy Drive
The Salvation Army’s Tucson Fry’s Toy Drive runs November 26 through December 10, 2026.
Shoppers can donate a new, unwrapped toy at participating Fry’s Food Stores to help local kids in need.
Arizona DCS Giving Tree
The Arizona Department of Child Safety Giving Tree provides personalized Christmas gifts to children, teens and young adults in DCS care.
Businesses, churches and other organizations can sponsor groups of children. Individual shoppers will also be able to select children to shop for, with DCS expected to update its individual shopping information in November 2026.
Scottsdale Adopt-a-Family
Individuals and organizations can sponsor Scottsdale families through Vista del Camino’s Adopt-a-Family program.
2026 sponsor registration opened September 9.
Sponsors help provide holiday gifts, food, clothing and other requested necessities to their matched families.
St. Vincent de Paul Adopt-a-Family
St. Vincent de Paul offers opportunities for individuals, families and companies to help provide Christmas gifts and holiday meals for Arizona families in need.
St. Vincent de Paul Holiday Giving
W. Steven Martin 911 Toy Drive
The W. Steven Martin 911 Toy Drive provides Christmas gifts to Arizona kids and families through police officers, firefighters and other public-safety personnel.
This program works a little differently from traditional toy assistance programs. Families don’t apply directly. Instead, public-safety personnel identify kids and families who need help based on situations they encounter in their communities.
The organization collects new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages. Gifts for preteen and teenage kids are especially needed, since donations for older kids tend to be more limited.
W. Steven Martin 911 Toy Drive
Know of Another Arizona Holiday Assistance Program?
We’re continuing to update this list as organizations announce their 2026 holiday programs.
If you know of an Arizona Christmas toy giveaway, Angel Tree, Adopt-a-Family program, police or fire department toy program, Elks Lodge program or other holiday assistance opportunity that should be included, let us know so we can add it to the list.
Holiday assistance programs can change their dates, eligibility requirements or availability. Some programs may also close registration early once they reach capacity. We recommend applying as soon as your local program opens and confirming current information directly with the organization.
