Where to get Christmas help in Cooke County this year

Christmas help in Cooke County is spread across a handful of groups, and each one has its own form and its own deadline. Some of those deadlines come early, before most of us have even put up a tree. So we put every program we could confirm for this year in one place, and we will keep this post up to date as more groups announce their plans.

The two soonest deadlines are only days away. If you need help this year, start at the top.

Salvation Army Angel Tree: register by Oct 31

The Salvation Army's office in Sherman runs the Angel Tree for Grayson, Cooke and Fannin counties. Donors pick a name off the tree and buy the gifts.

• Who: families going through financial hardship, for children 15 and under and seniors 60 and up.
• How: register online at saangeltree.org. The in-person sign-up days in Sherman have already passed.
• Have ready: proof of address, proof of income and proof that the children live in your home.
• Deadline: Oct 31, as KXII reported on Sept 29 when sign-ups opened. The Angel Tree website itself does not show a date, so don't wait until the last day.

Toys for Tots: apply by Nov 1

The Marine Corps Reserve campaign based in Aubrey covers Cooke, Denton, Wise and Montague counties.

• Who: children 14 and under. One form can list up to 10 children.
• How: apply online at aubrey-tx.toysfortots.org and choose Cooke County.
• Deadline: apply by Nov 1 to be safe. The campaign's 2026 dates page says applications close Nov 1, but its request page still shows last year's dates (Oct 1 to Nov 5, 2025). The campaign answers applications between Oct 15 and Nov 15.
• Pickup: approved families pick up toys sometime between Dec 8 and Dec 19. They tell each family the exact date and place.
• Questions: [email protected]

Hearts of Hope, Muenster Outreach: apply by Nov 21

Muenster Outreach, the food pantry at Sacred Heart in Muenster, is taking applications for its children's Christmas assistance program.

• How: email [email protected], text (940) 276-1025, or send Muenster Outreach a message on Facebook.
• Deadline: Nov 21.

Holiday Hope, Boys & Girls Club: wish lists closed, sponsors still needed

Holiday Hope, which used to be called Littlest Angels, fills Christmas wish lists for Cooke County children from birth to 18 in families going through a hard time. Families don't apply at the club. The wish lists come in through partner agencies that already work with the family.

This year's wish-list deadline was Oct 16, so it has passed. If you would like to sponsor a child instead, the club says sponsor forms will be ready in late October. You can reach the Boys & Girls Club of Cooke County at 315 N. Denton St. in Gainesville or (940) 665-6527.

Christmas Store, Cooke County Ministerial Alliance: waiting on this year's dates

The Christmas Store is run by the Ministerial Alliance with VISTO, Abigail's Arms and local churches. Families get points based on their need and use them to choose gifts for their kids. It ran at Whaley United Methodist Church in December of 2023 and 2024. We don't have this year's dates or sign-up details yet. When we do, they go here.

Know a program we missed?

Churches, schools, clubs and businesses run plenty of Christmas help that never makes the news. If you run a toy drive, an adopt-a-family, a Christmas meal or a coat drive, or you know of one, please tell us about it. Dates changed? Tell us that too. We will add it to this post and to our Christmas & Holiday Help list, which shows only the programs still taking sign-ups.