Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Get the Christmas help you need! Explore community resources that offer free toys, food, and assistance during the holidays.
Thankfully, good people in communities across Canada are working together to bring magic into the homes of those in need.
Today, I will share places to get help with Christmas and ways to find free toys, food, and other ways to save money.
If you know of a place that should be added below, please message me the information.
Christmas Assistance For Canadians
It’s a particularly challenging time of year for children at Christmas, but it’s even more difficult for parents who cannot afford to buy toys for their kids.
Local food banks have issued requests for donations as their food pantries appear bare.
Even worse is telling a child that Santa won’t be able to visit this year.
Searching For Christmas Help Programs In Canada
There are probably hundreds of Christmas help programs across Canada, but I’ve chosen the ones that stood out.
These programs that help families celebrate Christmas are valuable and can brighten a child’s eyes and fill their belly.
Christmas help doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have the money to spend, but rather that you have limited funds, which can be stressful.
I searched the web for ways Canadians can apply for free Christmas gifts and other items.
Christmas assistance is a way to bring families together to celebrate the holidays like everyone else.
If you want to offer Christmas donations, consider consulting your community to identify local needs.
3 Gift Christmas Rule At Our House
Growing up, my sisters and I had the three-gift rule for Christmas, where we created handwritten Christmas gift lists for Santa.
We had to share with Santa something we wanted to wear, a book to read, and a toy to play with, and that’s what we’d get.
Looking For Christmas Help In Your Community
Many Christmas charities exist for low-income families; however, you must first apply to most of them.
The months of October and November are ideal times to contact these organizations in your area.
There’s no reason to make Christmas holidays specifically about the gifts, but rather about the gift of giving, volunteering, and spending time with family.
Although I can’t list every Canadian Christmas help program or charity, I’ve listed many below.
If you need help this Christmas, consider connecting with local charities, churches, social services, city hall, and fellow residents on social media.
I’ve seen it done before, where parents will ask for help at Christmas, and community members online will come together.
Be cautious of scammers this time of year and give with the hope that you’re helping someone in need. Alternatively, consider contacting a local charity to donate.
Save Money To Stretch The Cash You Do Have
The best online Christmas deals mean using coupon codes, rewards programs, and referrals from friends.
Online Christmas store offers have already flooded our email inboxes, as I imagine they have for you.
With many people completing their Christmas shopping online, there are several ways to find deals and keep Christmas costs low.
Christmas Shopping Online Armed With Savings
If online shopping this holiday season is for you, here are a few websites that offer Christmas help with cashback and rewards.
For example, before visiting any website to shop, we start with Rakuten to see what cashback or discount codes we can find.
Earn Extra Cash when you shop online.
Sign up with Rakuten Canada and receive a refund on your purchases.
If we don’t find the store we are looking for, we also check Great Canadian Rebates, as both offer a variety of Canadian businesses.
You can enjoy all of Canada’s best savings rebates by joining Great Canadian Rebates as we did.
When you’re on a budget, saving money wherever possible at Christmas is the key to stretching your resources.
It also means that you may use all of your Christmas savings but still need more, and that’s where community charities come into play.
There are also ways teens in your family can earn extra money for Christmas, so there are plenty of opportunities.
What programs help with Christmas gifts?
For those with limited financial resources for the holidays, Christmas assistance is available across Canada and in various communities.
I will touch on some significant Canadian Christmas assistance programs, but please consult your local city-specific programs for more information.
No one should go without over the holidays, and I believe we can all do our part in helping families celebrate without Christmas stress.
Salvation Army Christmas Help
The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that offers a Christmas assistance program for those in need during the holiday season.
From toys to clothing, the Salvation Army offers practical Christmas assistance to families across Canada.
For example, the Guelph Salvation Army offers a Christmas Hamper Program for residents.
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
From food hampers to helping put toys under the tree, The Salvation Army provides practical assistance to those in need at Christmas.
Families and individuals may register for holiday assistance by completing an application process, which starts in November, at their local Salvation Army.
Families and individuals may register for holiday assistance by completing an application process, which usually starts during October or November, at their local Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army Christmas help is one of the most popular programs in Canada; please consider donating gently used clothing, toys, and other items.
Consider donating to the Salvation Army Christmas gifts program to help those in need.
For a location near you click here. (salvationarmy.ca/locator/)
Christmas Help With Toys
How can I get help with Christmas toys?
Toys for Tots is a program run by volunteers who offer toys to children during Christmas and other religious holidays.
Toys For Tots (Canada) is a Canadian charity based on local partnerships between Canadian Armed Forces, businesses, and concerned citizenry whose sole focus as an organization is to provide toys for children who are in need.
The Toys for Tots program also provides toys to local emergency services to distribute and assist with catastrophic events.
We collect toys though donations made at retail partners, media sponsors, and corporate fundraising events.
Children’s names come in from our partner agencies, and we sort toys and pack hampers for both individual home deliveries and large bulk packages for distribution before Christmas and throughout the year as requested.
You can donate to the Toys for Tots program if you’d like.
- Volunteer your time
- Donate Cash
- Offer new gifts by donation
- Become an organizational partner for the program
- Make Homeless Care Packages
Toys for Tots (Canada) is a Canadian charity that relies on local partnerships between the Canadian Armed Forces, businesses, and concerned citizens.
Earn Fast Cash For Christmas Help
If you find that the resources in your community for Christmas help are not enough or non-existent, there are ways you can earn fast cash.
The idea of earning fast cash for Christmas help means doing it in advance, not the week before Christmas.
Consider how much money you can earn or save online with little effort for big rewards.
- Start selling items you no longer use in your house online, preferably through Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji Canada.
- Take on extra hours at work if available.
- Look for odd jobs online that are listed by homeowners for which you qualify.
- Become a Canadian Uber Driver
- Find a part-time job at shops looking for extra Christmas help.
- Become a reseller and purchase products at a discounted rate from second-hand stores, online, or garage sales, then sell them for a higher price.
- Take advantage of cashback, rewards, and referral programs such as Rakuten Canada or Great Canadian Rebates to enjoy the best savings rebates in Canada.
- House sit, pet sit, or become a dog walker in your neighbourhood or the surrounding area.
- Rent a room in your house
- Become a HomeStay Host for International Students.
- Complete online surveys for cash or scan groceries for gifts and gift cards by joining Nielsen Homescan
- Sign up for the LEO panel to earn between $1 and $35 by taking surveys and giving your opinion on real-world topics.
- Activate the Paymi App for FREE. Use the code CanadianBudgetBinder and earn cashback when shopping at participating Canadian Retailers.
- If you spend a lot of time online, consider signing up for Swagbucks. It’s FREE. We LOVE it and hope you will, too.
How To Find A Family In Need This Christmas
If you want to find a family that you can provide Christmas help to, your best bet is to contact local organizations for assistance.
Your children’s school may offer an ‘Adopt a Family for Christmas’ program, where you can donate money or gift cards.
This year, our son’s elementary school is asking parents who can afford to donate $20 to help a needy family.
Related Post: How to adopt a family for Christmas
Christmas Help Programs Across Canada
I previously wrote about resources for obtaining free Christmas gifts, an excellent source of information that I encourage you to read.
This year, I want to focus on charities and businesses that offer programs to support families in need during the Christmas season.
Besides The Salvation Army and Toys for Tots, I found some other programs that help with Christmas gifts online.
If you’d like your organization or know of one in your community that you’d like added to the list, please message me the information.
Community Churches in your area are worth calling to ask if they offer any Christmas help.
Christmas Cheer Program
Provides needy families in the area with a complete turkey dinner, as well as mittens and toys for the children
The Lions Club of Canada offers a Christmas Basket Program, which varies depending on your local club; however, it is worth investigating.
Alliston Lions Christmas Food and Toy Hampers
This program provides a basket of food and toys to families and individuals in need for the Holiday season.
Hampers include:
- voucher for a turkey or ham
- sugar
- milk
- bread
- canned goods
- gifts or gift certificates for children up to 15 years of age
The Christmas Sharing Program
Christmas Sharing Program
To qualify for the Christmas Sharing Program, all applicants and dependents must satisfy income and residency requirements and provide proof of identity, income, and address with their application.
Children aged 10 and under are eligible for the toy drive, and single applicants can opt to attend the annual Christmas dinner.
Community Cares
This is a Christmas registration for residents of St. Catharines and the surrounding area in Ontario.
Hamilton Christmas Help
Christmas Registry of Hamilton
The Christmas Registry lists supports available in the City of Hamilton to help ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy Christmas.
It is coordinated by the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Food Share, and the Emergency Food Network, which operates in Hamilton.
Agencies can be contacted directly for additional details.
Christmas Help in Waterloo, Ontario
Christmas Bureau Waterloo Region
The Christmas Bureau helps people living on a low income in Waterloo Region with food and gifts.
In Kitchener and Waterloo, toys are provided by the Kitchener Salvation Army and Sertoma Club, and House of Friendship provides food. Family 100 provides both toys for kids and food.
In Cambridge, toys are provided by the Cambridge Salvation Army and the Cambridge Food Bank, and the Cambridge Firefighters Basket Fund provides food.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul supports families in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge.
Wilmot Family Resource Centre and Woolwich Community Services help their respective communities.
Applications for help with food and gifts will start in November. When and how you apply depends on the area in which you live.
If you need food support, please call the Food Assistance line at 519-743-5576 ext 340.
Holiday Sharing Adopt-A-Family
Christmas Sharing brings Christmas to families who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience a traditional Christmas.
Moorelands Kids’ Holiday Sharing Adopt-a-Family links a family, firm, or group with a family or families whose children have attended Moorelands Camp.
Through your sponsorship or “adoption,” Moorelands Kids provides holiday gifts to low-income Toronto families whose children attend our programs.
Innisfil Christmas Help
This is a Christmas help program for residents in Innisfil, Ontario.
What we need:
- We need to verify which school your child attends
- Proof of residence in Innisfil
- Be willing to tell us a little about your situation.
- We ask that families only apply to one organization for assistance
The Christmas Marketplace
Good Shepherd’s Christmas Help Through The Christmas Marketplace
The Christmas Marketplace will be offered from Monday, November 23 to Thursday, December 24.
The program will offer food, essential seasonal clothing and toys for children ages 0-12.
We recognized the need to be open regular hours with the exception of statutory holidays to accommodate as many households as possible.
Please book your appointment with reception in person or by phone (905.972.9485) throughout November 2020.
Angel Tree Christmas
Angel Tree Christmas. Those of you who have been involved feel the emotion of that moment.
When a child realizes that a parent who is away from home in prison remembered them with a Christmas gift, complete with a gift tag written in the parent’s handwriting
Share A Christmas Community Centre 55
Community Centre 55’s Share a Christmas program assists over 1,000 families.
The Share a Christmas program provides grocery gift cards and toys to local families in need.
Community Centre 55’s Share, A Christmas Program, will return for 2025!
How to Apply:
Applications for our Share A Christmas Program will open on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Please check if you live within the boundaries described below to determine which services you are eligible for and which forms must be submitted.
Families with children will receive age-appropriate toys for children up to 16 years old.
- North of Lake Ontario
- Southside of Danforth Avenue
- East of Coxwell Avenue
- West of Victoria Park Avenue
You can call 311 to check if any agencies offer Christmas assistance in your area.
Once your form has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions.
Christmas Reserve Fund
To ensure our family had money set aside for Christmas, we established a Christmas Reserve Fund within our budget.
Some might say there is no money to set aside for a Christmas reserve, and that’s expected.
However, by finding ways to cut back on expenses through the use of coupons and apps, rewards points, or budget trimming, you’ll find a few dollars.
For example, you can collect rewards points from sites such as Survey Junkie for extra Christmas help throughout the year.
You earn Points for taking Surveys and earn gift cards for your time. Sign up for Survey Junkie.
Another fun cashback app is Ampli for Canadians.
Sign up for the newest Canadian Cashback app, Ampli, where you don’t get points.
You get CASH.
Once you reach $15 in your account, you can e-transfer the cash to your bank account for free.
Sign up for Ampli first, then enter my Promo Code: AMPLI5 and link your account.
You will get $5 Free Cash added to your balance.
Please read my full Amplii App Review
Planning For Christmas
Christmas planning is a big deal for those who celebrate, but it can also be the most stressful financial time of the year.
Creating debt at Christmas should be a red flag, especially if it becomes a recurring problem every year.
If you are lucky enough to have a freezer, you can buy food on sale and freeze it for your Christmas festivities.
Save up to 75% off food With The FlashFood App.
Using the FlashFood app in Canada is an AWESOME way to find food and other products up to or more than 50% off.
We check the app daily to see what grocery stores in our area are trying to get rid of quickly, for a low price, and that are worth signing up for.
Flashfood app Canada – Save up to 50% or more on food products nearing expiration from participating Loblaws stores, including RCSS, Zehrs, Dominion, and Loblaws.
Christmas Help and Employee Bonuses
While gifts and food are essential, so are finding inexpensive Christmas activities for your family.
If your boss gives you Christmas gifts or a bonus, don’t rely on that, especially at employee Christmas parties.
You never know when things can change for a business owner; their budget is often the first to get cut.
Give Hope To Those In Need
In closing, there are ways we can all give back to help make Christmas a happy one for families across Canada.
We should all have hope, but if we can make someone’s hope come to life, it will be a lifelong memory.
Discussion: How has the community in your area offered you Christmas help?
What tips do you have for CBB readers to save money for Christmas?
Please leave your comments below, as I enjoy reading your feedback on my blog topics.
Recent Blog Posts
Below is a recap of my blog posts over the past two weeks.
If you haven’t subscribed to the blog, please add your email to my list to receive my weekly blog posts and access to my Free Budget Resources Library.
- How To Find The Right Smartphone For Gaming
- Keto Peanut Butter Cookies with Sugar-Free Caramel Drizzle
- 11 Costco Items We Buy To Save Money
- How To Set Up A Christmas Budget Planner (Free Budget Binder Printable)
- 6 Consequences Of Not Using A Family Budget – Our October Budget Update
- Ontario Seniors Homeowners Property Tax Grant Qualifications
Seasonal Frugal Recipe Box
I’ll post Christmas recipes until after the New Year, and I’m excited to find new ones.
Christi from Love from the Oven has these delicious-looking Hot Cocoa Cookies that are perfect Christmas cookies.
What I love about her recipe is that it screams holiday cookies and would look fabulous on a Christmas dessert platter.
Tips and Ideas For Saving Money In Canada
You’ll find ways to save money in Canada here, as I’m focusing on your budget binder, which is essential to your financial success.
I’m looking for ways to save money in all the budget categories you may have on your monthly budget.
Thoughts Corner By Mr.CBB
Blogging is nothing short of basic math, and if I can encourage any of you to start using a budget, I’m thrilled.
Start by reading my 10-Step Budget Mini-Series. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to message me.
Home and Blog Update
Home And Blog Update
Bring on the snow! I’m just kidding, but I’m almost ready.
Home Update:
The last two weeks have been wild around here, as I’ve been traveling back and forth to tie up loose ends for my family.
We had three birthday celebrations and family workouts in between.
I’ve been investing a significant amount of time daily in working out, as I feel that working from home has allowed me to let myself go a bit.
It feels great to be back on the treadmill, and we’ve bought an exercise bike to work out together.
Our basement features workout dumbbells and other fitness gadgets to help us stay in shape.
I’ve also been searching for new tires for my truck, which will cost us a significant amount.
Thankfully, we have been saving money throughout the year for tire expenses.
This weekend is all about putting out Christmas decorations, which we will all be doing.
I’m not sure when I will put the Christmas tree up, but I’m sure it will be soon, as our son LOVES Christmas.
Otherwise, life is okay on our end, and Mrs. CBB will get some much-needed treatment in December.
Blog Update
I’ve mostly been updating recipes and old posts to jazz them up and re-making my recipes for better photography.
When I started CBB, I took photos without any skills or knowledge about the best practices for food bloggers.
As a Finance and Food blogger, I wanted to showcase my recipes for those interested in trying them.
Having boring, blurry, or small photos just doesn’t cut it.
Food bloggers are doing food videos these days, but I don’t think I will.
I like to keep things simple on CBB, and I’m always open to tips and ideas for my blog.
I’ve been slowly working on a ‘How to Start a Blog‘ post for readers who have expressed their desire to do so with me.
When creating a blog, if you do it right, you can earn money working from home or passive income for the rest of your life.
If you have any questions you’d like answered about starting a blog, please message me so I can include them in my blog post.
Saturday Search Term Giggles
These are keywords that readers typed into their search engine and landed on this blog.
I get thousands of these daily and pick some of the best to feature here.
- Exchanging a gift without a recipe – Hahaha, no recipe required.
- Blue vein cheese- You mean Blue Cheese?
- How to right a letter to complain about the staff – no comment
- Forgot to pay the mortgage – How does one forget the most important bill payment?
- How long do you go to jail for shoplifting- It’s always good to know what will happen before you try something.
Thanks for your continued support of CBB and for listening to me ramble about our financial journey.
I’ll see you back here in two weeks for the next edition of The Saturday Weekend Review.
Be well,
Mr.CBB
Please share CBB to help us grow.
Have a great two weeks, and if you haven’t subscribed to the blog, do so now, as my bi-weekly newsletter comes to your inbox for free.
It’s filled with photos and a behind-the-scenes look at what we’ve been up to in the CBB family.
Keep reading, stopping by, chatting, and thanks for being a fan of CBB.
Without you, there would be no Canadian Budget Binder.
A safe space for Canadians to talk about their finance and find free resources to get them on the path to debt freedom.
Additionally, I now release a monthly newsletter directly to your email inbox, exclusive to blog subscribers.
You’ll find exclusive updates about the blog and CBB home life, including photos and exclusive contests.
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