During the holiday season, Heartland United Way provides necessities, gift items, and food vouchers to individuals and families 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.
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Need Food?
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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 started to carry on this tradition. This program provides a grocery voucher for a holiday meal to people in need in Hall County.
Sign up for this program begins in October 1, and ends November 17, 2025.
Need Gifts?
Heartland United Way works in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corp each year to offer the Heartland United Way Toy Drive & Toys for Tots Distribution. Children must be 12 years old or younger and reside with you in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, or Merrick Counties in Nebraska to be eligible for this program.
Parents whose children are accepted into the program will receive a letter/voucher to “shop” for their child’s gift from the donated items. The goal is to collect enough items so each child will receive one toy, a stuffed animal, and a book or game.
Applications open on October 1, and close November 17, 2025.
If your Heartland United Way Toy Drive and Toys for Tots Distribution application is accepted you will receive a letter around December 3. If your application is denied you will be sent an email explaining the reason your application was not accepted (example: You don't live in the four-county area we serve). Families who have applied for the Wait List will not receive a letter in the mail or through their child's school, but will be notified of their shopping time via email. Those on the waitlist are not guaranteed toys.
IN YOUR CHILD'S BACKPACK
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Grand Island Public School families with children in elementary school.
IN THE MAIL
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Families with children not enrolled in school.
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Families with children enrolled in schools outside of Grand Island Public Schools.
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Families with ONLY middle school children in Grand Island Public Schools.
AT THE DISTRIBUTION SITE
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Families who applied for toys AFTER 5:00 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 17TH are added to the Wait List. Toys are not guaranteed for families on the Wait List.
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Check your email for a shopping time. (No email by December 5? Call 308-382-2675 with questions.)
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Families who applied for the Wait List are not automatically accepted. Plan to bring an ID and your child(ren)'s birth certificates to the distribution site.
If your application for the Heartland United Way Toy Drive and Toys for Tots Distribution is accepted you should receive a letter around December 3. If you have not received a letter by December 5, feel free to call our office at 308-382-2675. If you applied to the Wait List you will not receive a letter. Families on the Wait List should receive an email with a shopping time and instructions.