Moms are superheroes, and you will never convince me otherwise. The holidays, though, can be especially draining, even more so if you are a single mom. If you are worried about making ends meet while trying to give your kids a magical Christmas, fear not; there are so many incredible resources to help.
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Gift and Toy Assistance
Salvation Army Angel Tree
The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. Once a child or senior adult has been registered and accepted as an Angel, their Christmas wish list is shared with donors in your community who purchase gifts of new clothing and toys. The gifts are distributed to the family to place under their family Christmas tree.
Gift Mart at New City Church
Gift Mart is a Christmas store that is designed for parents and guardians to purchase gifts for the children in their care. All toys and gifts are new and donated by the church and community. Gifts are for ages infant through approximately age 16.
Items are priced at an affordable price, approximately 50-80% off of retail value! Gifts are priced approximately $1-$15, depending on what you choose! Find a gift your child will love that also fits your budget. Gifts are available while supplies last.
Holiday Wish
Each holiday season, PB&J Family Services matches generous sponsors with families in need.
Toys for Tots
In partnership with various non-profits, including the Albuquerque Department of Family and Community Services and the U.S. Marine Corps, this program is offered for low-income families with children.
Food Assistance
The Storehouse
The Storehouse became a nonprofit organization in 1976 with one specific goal: to help New Mexicans solve their food insecurities regardless of race, faith, age, gender, or disability. Hunger has increased over recent years, but so has the Storehouse’s reach and ability to help.
The Pink Bus
The Pink Bus is a nonprofit organization, helping families suffering from food insecurity and basic necessities in emergency crises. They are 100% funded by community resources: small local business partnerships, neighbors, friends, and family support.
Roadrunner Food Bank
Roadrunner Food Bank is a member of a national network of roughly 200 food banks across the United States called Feeding America. This nonprofit is the largest domestic hunger relief program in the U.S., providing food for 46 million hungry Americans through corporate donations, food rescue, government programs, and more. As the local member of this national affiliation, Roadrunner Food Bank receives food, funding, best practice information, and much more to help hungry neighbors.
Rio Grande Food Project
RGFP is the largest food pantry on Albuquerque’s Westside, located at 600 Coors Blvd. NW (south of Interstate 40) in an area known as a “food desert” where a significant portion of residents do not have sufficient access to quality food.
St. Felix Pantry
For over 30 years, St. Felix Pantry has been serving the community. They provide food, compassionate support, and referral services free of charge. Their core values impact everything they do: respect for human dignity, compassion, justice and peace, transformation, and solidarity with people in need.
High Desert Methodist Food Pantry
The High Desert Methodist Food Pantry (HDMFP) is funded by members of High Desert United Methodist Church and other individuals concerned with addressing food insecurity in our community. All workers volunteer their time and are appropriately trained or certified by Roadrunner Food Bank.
Salvation Army Food Pantry
They require a picture ID for each adult and for anyone under 17 in the household: a birth certificate, Medicaid card, or some official government document. They also require proof of residence—some type of documentation with your name and address on it.
Lobo Food Pantry
Free to all currently enrolled UNM students. Students will have an opportunity to fill a basket with grocery offerings of their choice and must weigh the basket for final checkout. Students are required to sign a waiver for the semester and provide general identifying information (name, email, UNM ID number) when visiting the pantry in order to help track the number of visits they use each month. The daily limit is either a full basket or 10.0 lbs., whichever the student meets first.
Clothing Assistance
Bethel Storehouse
Food, clothing, housewares, and furniture for low-income or no-income families.
Locker 505
Locker #505 student clothing bank is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that has established a student-focused facility where children can try on and choose outfits that they feel good about wearing. Having appropriate school clothing allows children to concentrate on their school work, not their clothing. It also helps keep children, who might not go to class because of their clothes, stay in school.
Christmas Trees
The Christmas Tree Project
Request a free Christmas tree by applying here. Trees are not guaranteed to every applicant.
More Holiday Resources
Guide to Holiday Events in Albuquerque
Free Holiday Events & Experiences in Albuquerque
Where to See Santa In and Around Albuquerque
