The Salvation Army in Des Moines, Iowa -- Christmas

Christmas is more than toys, of course, but to a child a new toy at Christmas means the world. Each year The Salvation Army in Des Moines -- with the help of Toys for Tots and other organizations -- provides Christmas toys for some 4,000 children. Your financial support helps make this possible.

Families in need of assistance with toys for their children at Christmas should contact our Family Services department in early November to learn when this year's sign-up for toy assistance will be held.

Each Christmas The Salvation Army provides toys for the children of mothers incarcerated at the women's prison in Mitchellville. (Older children receive gift cards.) Mothers write a personal note to each child and the note is included in the child's wrapped gift. The gifts are mailed to the children without mention of The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army helps add joy to Christmas by providing needy families with enough groceries to prepare a large, healthy holiday meal. More than 1,200 families were assisted in this way last Christmas. If your family could use this assistance, contact our Family Services department in early November to learn when the Christmas Food Basket sign-up takes place.