10/12/2026
IMPORTANT CLIENT INFORMATION FOR CHRISTMAS
Sign-ups for food baskets for Christmas will begin on Monday, November 2 at 10:00 AM. Like last year, sign-ups will be in person only.
Like last year, only CURRENT HELPING HANDS CLIENTS will be permitted to sign up. A current client is defined as any household that has an ACTIVE Helping Hands client file as of Friday, October 30, 2026, and have received food assistance on or after Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Case files must be verified during the sign-up process.
Clients may designate someone to pick up their box for them. They must designate their alternate pick-up person at the time they sign up, and the alternate pick-up person’s name must be noted on the appointment sheet in order for them to pick up. The alternate person must present their ID as well as the client’s ID when they arrive to pick up the client’s basket.
Christmas basket sign-ups will end when we run out of available baskets or Friday, November 20, 2026 at 2:30 PM, whichever comes first.
Clients who participate in the South Shore distribution will sign up in person during the November South Shore distribution (Thursday, November 19). These baskets will be distributed on Thursday, December 17 from 1 – 3 PM. This will be the only day we will have sign-ups for clients who participate in the South Shore.
Distribution will once again be drive-thru in the back lot. Similar to the last few years, clients will be given a two-hour block of time in which to pick up their basket. As we’ve done in the past, clients may pick up anytime during their assigned block but will not be permitted to reschedule once their block is assigned.