The Salvation Army of Livingston County offers Thanksgiving Assistance as well as Christmas Assistance to Livingston County families and individuals. 

Thanksgiving Assistance is provided through either delivered meals or DIY holiday meal boxes that are picked up. Meals vary each year, but usually contain a Traditional Thanksgiving meal. DIY holiday meal boxes are picked up at a scheduled date and time the week of Thanksgiving.

If eligible Christmas Assistance will be provided through either our Adopt A Family program or our Toy Shop and Holiday Meal box program. 

Adopt-a-Family is a program that anonymously pairs a family in need with donors in the community. Families that are adopted will receive gifts and food for Christmas. Note: Due to the nature of this program, for a family to be eligible for Adopt A Family you must attend an October Sign up events.

Toy Shop is a program where families get to "shop" at our toy warehouse. This is a great opportunity to personally choose the perfect gift for your child. The number of gifts each child receives is dependent on the donations The Salvation Army receives each year. Along with gifts each family also receives a Holiday Meal Box including a Turkey or Ham. Families that are eligible to receive Christmas assistance, but not eligible for Adopt-a-Family will get the amazing opportunity to shop at the Toy Shop.

How do I Apply and How Does it Work?

All families and individuals wishing to receive Assistance MUST attend one of the Christmas/Thanksgiving Assistance Events.

If you are only in need of Thanksgiving you must attend our sign ups in October. 

Location:

The Salvation Army Church and Social Services

503 Lake Street, Howell

Dates and Times:

• October 14th from 10am-6pm
• October 15th from 10am-6pm
• October 16th from 10am-6pm
• November 11th from 10am-6pm 
• November 12th from 10am-6pm

Day Of Holiday Assistance Events: 

• At the Holiday Assistance Event families will complete an application to determine eligibility (be sure to bring all the required documents; ID's for all Adults in the home, ID for all children (Social Security card, Birth certificate, Immunization records or School ID), Proof of Livingston County Residency (Current Utility bill, Lease or DHHS paperwork))
• Please note: At this time we are only allowing one person per household in the building to shop. As always children are not allowed and at this time we can not make any exceptions. 

After Assistance Event (for Thanksgiving ONLY):

• You will be mailed a letter and notified by November 4th of the thanksgiving program that you qualified for along with the date in which you will either pick up your meal or have it delivered
• Please do not call prior to November 4th. We receive a very large number of requests for Assistance and with our limited staff it takes some time to process and determine eligibility and program acceptance. Unless you did not qualify at the event, you WILL receive assistance in one of the programs.
• After you have received your letter, Save the Date! Due to the large number of families receiving assistance it is imperative that you arrive on time and ready or are at home to receive your meal.

Thanksgiving Meal Receiving Day:

• For meal delivery, be prepared to have a volunteer dropping off your meal during the time slot assigned. The volunteer will knock or ring the door bell, please have pets in a safe area and be prepared to receive food that will either need to be eaten that evening or placed in the refrigerator for the next day. 
• At meal pick up location you will arrive and check in - a volunteer will guide you to the loading location, where they will load your vehicle with your DIY holiday meal box.

After Holiday Assistance (Christmas) Event:

• You will be mailed a letter and notified by December 1st of the program that you qualified for along with the date in which you will either pick up your gifts or "shop"
• Please do not call prior to December 1st. We receive a very large number of requests for Christmas Assistance and with our limited staff it takes some time to process and determine eligibility and program acceptance. Unless you did not qualify at the event, you WILL receive Christmas assistance in one of the programs.
• After you have received your letter, Save the Date! Due to the large number of families receiving assistance it is imperative that you arrive on time and ready.  

Christmas Gift Receiving Day:

• At the Toy Shop you will arrive, check in and be assigned a "Santa's Helper" - Santa's helpers walk with the families guiding them through the toy shop and assisting them. Please note: At this time we are only allowing one person per household in the building to shop. As always children are not allowed and at this time we can not make any exceptions. 
• After shopping, your gifts will bagged and loaded into your vehicle along with your holiday meal box
• At Adopt-a-Family you will arrive and stay in your car to check in - "Santa's Helpers" will check you in and guide you to the loading location, where they will load your vehicle with gifts and food. As always children are not allowed and at this time we cannot make any exceptions.