Helping During the Holidays

Various volunteers pose with toys during the Holiday Toy Drive and Toys for Tots Distribution 2024.

During the holiday season, Heartland United Way provides necessities, gift items, and food vouchers to individuals experiencing extraordinary needs through three programs – Holiday Toy Program, Holiday Adopt a Family Program, & Christmas Cheer. The Heartland United Way works closely with our community, local school social workers, United Way community partners and the U.S. Marine Corps & their Toys for Tots program to make these programs possible.

Each year, our organization is able to serve the referred individuals and families because of the generosity of our community members and the assistance of local businesses.

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Heartland United Way Holiday Toy Drive

The Holiday Toy Drive provides holiday gift assistance for children age 12 and under in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick Counties whose parents are not financially able to provide gifts for them during the holidays. This program is not meant for providing additional toys.


Parents whose children are accepted into the program will receive a letter/voucher to “shop” for their child’s gifts from the donated items on distribution day.

In 2025, 2,303 children received gifts through this program.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys and gently-used books are collected starting in November. Please drop off donations of new, un-wrapped toys at the Heartland United Way office (1441 N Webb Road, Grand Island). 

Most wished-for items for older boys and girls 8 to 12 years old: Electronic Games Instant Cameras LEGO Building Set Problem Solving Games STEM Learning Kits Science Kits Fun Watches Slime Kits Sports Balls Sporting Equipment Nerf Gun Bikes and Scooters Books Kinetic Sand Jewelry Making Kits Makeup Kits Art & Craft Kits Karaoke Microphone Bluetooth Speakers Adult Coloring Books Pencils/Pens Fun Slippers Bags & Purses String Art Wireless Earbuds LED Strip Lights

Holiday Credit Card Donation Form
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Donation Recognition
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TOTAL
$

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Toy Collection Site!
Interested businesses and organizations, needed to be signed up by November 1st.
Boxes are available for pick-up November 3, 4, & 5
Heartland United Way Toy Collection is November 6 - December 6.

 

 

Check Go2Volunteer for holiday volunteer opportunities!

 

Holiday Adopt a Family Program

The Adopt a Family program allows businesses, community members, and organizations to provide local families with food, necessity items, and gifts during the holidays. Families accepted into this program are experiencing extraordinary needs due to job loss, health issues, a house fire, or other major circumstances. Adopters donate gifts to an assigned family anonymously based on a description of the family’s biggest needs. In 2025, Heartland United Way connected 36 local families with adopters through the program.
All families must be referred or nominated by a social worker, church or other agency. Referrals must be submitted by November 6. For more information about referring a family or individual, email holiday@heartlandunitedway.org .

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Cheer was established in 1910 to provide a helping hand to local families during the holidays. A volunteer board operated this program, and in 2024 the Heartland United Way began to carry on this tradition. This program provides a grocery voucher for a holiday meal to Hall County people & families in need. In 2025, 1,296 families received food vouchers through this program. 

Thank you for your interest in the Heartland United Way Holiday Adopt A Family Program. Starting October 1, please fill out the form below by November 6th to be added to the adopters list. You will be contacted by mid November with adopter assignments. 
 
Nominations for Adopt a Family close in early November.

Once nominations close, anonymous information will be shared with the adopter families in mid-November to give adopters at least two weeks to shop and wrap presents before delivering them to the Heartland United Way. 

Depending on the family you are paired with will determine when to bring your wrapped, precious gifts to the Heartland United Way. Our team will connect with you to provide you with a timeline to be determined.

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You can donate to Christmas Cheer by cash or check at the Heartland United Way office at 1441 N. Webb Road in Grand Island.

 

Holiday Credit Card Donation Form
Add dashes to phone number
Donation Recognition
Enter the name this donation is in honor of
Enter the name this donation is in memory of
TOTAL
$
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