Spencer Solves It: 25+ ways to find holiday help in Houston

Each year KPRC 2′s Bill Spencer helps families in need in the Houston area with our ‘Christmas Miracles’ project. But Bill and the team can’t help everyone.

As we enter the holiday season, nonprofit and community organizations are stepping up to help families in need with toy drives, food assistance, utility relief, and more. Bill and the team compiled a list of groups offering critical support to make the holidays brighter for everyone.

If you’re looking to give back or need a little extra help this season, here are some key programs and resources available in the Houston area.

Call 2-1-1 helpline first

Your first stop if you need help is to call the United Way Greater Houston at 2-1-1. The United Way offers a variety of services for anyone needing help with household finances, education, disaster recovery and more. When you call 2-1-1 you will talk to someone who will help determine the best organization to help you.

Food and utility assistance

• BakerRipley provides rental and utility assistance as well as food distribution services at various locations. For example, their Gulfton campus hosts food fairs open to all community members. They also assist with applications for SNAP and Medicaid. More information is available on their website: BakerRipley.
• Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) offers a food pantry and utility assistance. Their “Jingle Bell Express” program distributes toys and food to families in need. Contact them to donate or sign up for assistance: CCSC Houston.
• Feeding America Holiday Food Drives Local food banks across the country, coordinated through Feeding America, offer holiday meals to families in need. Many locations accept monetary donations, nonperishable food, and volunteer help. Find your nearest food bank at Feeding America.
• Catholic Charities Holiday Assistance Catholic Charities offers a variety of programs, including food distribution, toy drives, and rent/utility assistance for families in need. Each branch operates independently, so check with your local chapter. Find more information at Catholic Charities USA.

Toy drives and gift donations

• B.E.A.R. (Be a Resource for CPS Kids) - Children in the foster care system often leave traumatic situations with only a garbage bag full of what they could carry. B.E.A.R. offers these children clothing, comfort items, car seats and more to bring joy. Learn about their BEARing Gifts holiday program here.
• Star of Hope Mission collects gifts for homeless individuals and families, including toys, toiletries, and gift cards. Items can be dropped off at their Women & Family Development Center by mid-December: Star of Hope.
• Salvation Army Angel Tree Program The Angel Tree initiative connects donors with children and seniors in need, providing gifts such as clothing and toys. Local Salvation Army chapters facilitate this program, making holiday wishes come true. Visit Angel Tree to learn more about participating in your area.
• Operation Homefront Holiday Toy Drive Focused on military families, this program collaborates with Dollar Tree stores to collect and distribute toys. The initiative supports active-duty service members, veterans, and their families during the holidays. Learn how you can donate or volunteer at Operation Homefront.
• Toys for Tots Run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Toys for Tots collects and distributes new, unwrapped toys to children nationwide. Drop-off locations can be found in most communities. Visit Toys for Tots for details.

Throughout the year, KPRC 2 and our proud Community partners at Energy Transfer, Houston Christian University and Exclusive Furniture have featured several organizations that serve our community in different ways.

KPRC 2 Community featured organizations

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace - Beds are handcrafted and delivered to families so no child has to sleep on the floor in our community.
• David’s Legacy Foundation - Providing training, counseling and legal services to help protect children from bullying and cyberbullying.
• The Restoration Team - Provides free home safety upgrades to our neighbors who cannot afford upkeep on their aging and/or weather-damaged homes.
• Urban Harvest - Offering low-cost mobile farmers’ markets, community gardens and educational outreach programs to Houston’s underserved communities.
• Services for pets - Free and low-cost spay and neuter services, vaccinations and more resources for responsible pet owners.
• Harrison’s Heroes - Bringing smiles to children during their hospital stays. Services include a new hair washing station, birthday box program, holiday tree farm for hospital patients and so much more.
• Kids’ Meals - Providing healthy bagged lunches for pre-school age children who do not yet have access to school lunch programs. By providing nutritious meals, Kids’ Meals helps foster children’s brain development and combat hunger.
• U.S. VETS Houston - Serving and empowering veterans with housing, mental health services, job training and more.
• Star of Hope - Assisting homeless individuals and families to empower them with shelter, education, substance abuse recovery services and more. You can sponsor a family and positively impact them during the holiday season through Star of Hope’s Glad Tidings Adopt-a-Family program.
• Houston Habitat for Humanity - Offering Houstonians affordable housing and financial literacy education to ensure their success.
• Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation - Helping Houston’s children reach literacy goals with their Curiosity Cruiser, My Home Library and Reading a Reader programs among many other projects and services dedicated to empowering Houston-area youth.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston - Providing a “home away from home” and comfort items to families with a child staying in a Houston-area hospital.

More nonprofits offering services and assistance

• Bo’s Place - For individuals and families grieving the loss of a child, parent or a close loved one, Bo’s Place offers free-of-charge bereavement support services.
• Wreaths Across America - Houston - Placing wreaths at gravesites at Houston National Cemetery, helping the community remember and learn about our fallen servicemembers.
• The Mission of Yahweh - A faith-based organization providing shelter and services for homeless women and children, including survivors of domestic violence. Donate or volunteer to offer holiday help for the families they serve.
• Houston Children’s Charity - Serving Houston’s underprivileged, abused and disabled children. They offer an annual holiday toy distribution event to help families in need.
• Houston Food Bank - Food distribution to families in need.
• Easter Seals Greater Houston - Services for individuals with special needs and their families. Easter Seals also provides services to veterans. They offer a holiday giving program for families in need.
• The American Red Cross Texas and Gulf Coast - Disaster recovery aid providing emergency shelter and resources for families devasted by weather events, house fires and more.

How You Can Help

If you’re in a position to give, consider donating toys, food, or your time as a volunteer. Many of these organizations also accept monetary donations to expand their outreach efforts. Volunteer Houston connects people with places in Houston that need help.

Bill Spencer’s Christmas Miracles for 2024 have been chosen and we are in the process of helping those families. We are not taking more submissions at this time. We hope this resource can help connect your family to help if you need it this holiday season.