Winter Wish Alternate Programs

Holiday Gift Programs of North King County

Christmas House – Snohomish County (Everett, etc.)

Christmas House provides holiday gifts for qualifying, low-income, Snohomish County families with children age 18 or younger. We are a privately funded charity, not a government funded program. To qualify to shop at Christmas House, you must provide proof that you:

  • Are a resident of Snohomish County
  • Have children aged 18 or younger living in your custody, and have a household income at or below 150% of the poverty level
  • Completed family information form (available online or when you get your ticket)
  • have a Current photo ID, or passport for yourself • Proof of spouse/significant other living in household
  • Proof of current Snohomish County address, Proof of children, birth dates and guardianship, Proof of household income.
  • https://christmas-house.org/shop/
    Phone: 425-338-2273
    Boys & Girls Club gym at 2316-12th Street, Everett, WA 98201

Holiday Assistance at Hopelink (5 locations)

  • During the November and December holiday season, Hopelink’s 5 Food Markets offer a variety of special seasonal foods for households. Such foods include squashes and pumpkins, spices, stuffing mixes, fresh cranberries, baking supplies and protein options as funding allows.
  • https://www.hopelink.org/blog/2024-holiday-assistance-resources/

Holiday Gift Programs of South King County

St. Francis House

The gift shop is for pregnant women, including single moms. Kids need to be underage or just born, and they can get toys as well as free Christmas gifts. It is for low income and working poor families.

Serves East Pierce County. They provide gifts for children through their family adoption program. Clients may fill out an adoption application between October 1st and November 5th of each year. All applications must be submitted by November 5th. They provide holiday meal assistance as well.

Snoqualmie Kiwanis (Giving Tree)

Location: Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, 122 E 3rd St, North Bend, WA 98045

Eligibility: Families in Snoqualmie, Preston, Fall City, and North Bend enrolled in the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank. Families can also sign up through school counselors.

Additional Information: Kiwanis continues to collect gifts until the end of the year. If you miss the shopping event at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, contact Harold at (425)-698-3180 to schedule a time to choose gifts for your family.

Auburn Food Bank

Need some extra gifts for the kids? Sign up for the annual Christmas toy distribution. This program is paid for by Auburn residents for those living within the Auburn School District boundaries. Sign up during our regular hours. Last day to sign up is Friday, December 13.

Identification will be required for proof of address such as current mail piece or government issued ID.

https://www.theauburnfoodbank.org/events/christmas-toy-distribution
2804 Auburn Way North Auburn WA 98002 
253-833-8925

Eastridge Church (Issaquah Campus)

Location: 24205 SE Issaquah-Fall City Rd., Issaquah, WA 98029

Phone: (425)-392-3253

Details: Eastridge Church offers a Turkey & Groceries Giveaway (while supplies last) and a Toy House for families in need. To sign up for the Toy House, families must attend either the West Seattle or Issaquah Turkey Giveaway.

Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank

The Holiday Gift Barn is providing gift cards for holiday shopping to registered clients of Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, have a child under 18 (if your child is 18 but in high school, that is acceptable) and reside in one of the following zip codes: 98014, 98024, 98025, 98027, 98029, 98038, 98045, 98050, 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98065, 98074 or 98075, or have children enrolled in the Issaquah School District. (If you are unhoused, you may still qualify for this program.)

Our Holiday Gifts program brings a little more holiday joy for families and helps reduce some of the financial burden of the shopping season. This program is for families with children 0-18 years of age. Due to the large increase in participation of this program, in order to be eligible for the 2025 program, you must have accessed THREE food services between January 1st, 2025 and November 14th, 2025. This includes market shopping, Summer Lunch, Lunch for the Break or deliveries. The application must be submitted by November 14th, or your application will be considered incomplete.

Holiday Gift Programs of Greater King County

Salvation Army- Greenwood

  • The Salvation Army collects necessary information to determine qualification for participation in the program and details on each Angel. Examples may include, but are not limited to: photo ID, proof of residence (lease, utility bill or mail received from the school district or other government agency). Examples of documents needed for each child may include but are not limited to : birth certificate, official custody or guardianship papers, clothing and shoe sizes, and a toy wish for each child. No private information for you or your Angel is shared with the public.
  • Availible for zip codes: 98028, 98102, 98103, 98105, 98107, 98109, 98113, 98115, 98117, 98119, 98125, 98127, 98132, 98133, 98139, 98145, 98155, 98160, 98165, 98175, 98177, 98185, 98199
  • https://saangeltree.org/index.dpi 
    206-783-1225
    Seattle Temple: 9501 Greenwood Ave N

Salvation Army — King County

Gifts of Hope

Gifts of Hope warmly welcomes all who are navigating life’s challenges, especially during this season of joy. We know that we all face difficult moments, and sometimes a little extra help can be the brightest star on the Christmas tree. That’s why our holiday outreach, “Hope for Christmas,” exists: to bring a little light, care, and practical support to families and individuals in need.

  • Pickup requires a picture ID.
  • For children, a birth certificate will be required.
  • If you have questions or would like to learn more about the “Hope for Christmas” program, please contact our Gifts of Hope 24/7 Info Line at: Phone: 206-759-8478 https://www.givinggiftsofhope.org/home-3-1

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

  • You can sign up to be part of the Adopt-A-Family program through a local St. Vincent de Paul chapter based in Catholic churches. Volunteers run each chapter, so hours vary and each location is limited to serving neighborhood boundaries as shown in the map. Please call the location that serves your area.
  • Additional Christmas support can be found by calling 2-1-1.
  • Contact a volunteer-run St. Vincent de Paul chapter in your local church
  • Use the map below to find the church in your area where you can call for assistance. Each church can only serve within its neighborhood, as shown in the boundaries in the map. Please only call the location that serves your area.
  • Neighbors can call our helpline at 206-767-6449

Wellspring Family Services

In Rainier Valley. Wellspring may not be able to fulfill every gift request. Availability depends on the donations received. Only submit one form per family. Multiple submissions will not increase the chance of receiving gifts. If you or a family you’re working with is homeless or unstable (e.g. low-income, job loss, struggling to afford basics), you can request gifts for kids ages 0 – 17.

To be eligible for the gift program, new babies should have a due date before 2025 and teens turning 18 should have a birthday after the request is submitted. We will reach out with news about available gifts between Thanksgiving and mid-December. Once contacted, we will hold the gift for 7 business days starting the day after you’re contacted. Questions? Contact familystore@wellspringfs.org.

https://wellspringfs.org/giftrequest/
(206)-826-3050
1900 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

USPS Operation Santa

USPS runs a program called Operation Santa where children can write letters to Santa (to a sneaky USPS secret address) and volunteers read these letters and choose children that they want to send Christmas gifts to.

Note: Volunteers are more likely to choose letters to Santa that ask for things like clothing, toys, school supplies rather than expensive electronics or bikes.

There is a comprehensive website with instructions (as well as some tips) on how to get gifts from Santa this year. Letters must be postmarked by December 11th.

Forgotten Children’s Fund

  • Serves the greater Seattle area and King County residents as well as North Counties (Snohomish, Skagit) and Lewis Counties. They help working families who do not qualify for assistance from other public or charitable organizations. They are application only and applications must be received by December 16th. Not all applicants will receive assistance, and they do not serve anyone who has received their assistance in the last 5 years.
  • Must have a child between the ages of 3-10 and lives in King County.
  • https://www.forgottenchildrensfund.org/request-help
  • Family Application — The Forgotten Children’s Fund

King County Toys for Tots

  • Toys for Tots collects and gives out toys, books, and stocking stuffers to children in need in King County.
  • This year, toys will be distributed only to non-profit organizations and individuals will need to reach out to approved organizations to request a toy. Download the mobile app and “Send an application” for “Toys as a Family”
  • https://fort-lewis-wa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/request-toys.aspx
  • Coordinator: Sgt Vanesa Ceballos fort.lewis.wa@toysfortots.org
  • 425-272-5433