Hope Initiative | Thanksgiving & Christmas 2026
Loved Through
the Holidays
A season of hope for up to 10 households.
Families with or without children, seniors and people living alone are welcome. Assistance is available regardless of religious affiliation. Prayer is optional.
Our 2026 holiday campaign
Practical care for the holiday season.
The cost of holiday meals, gifts and everyday essentials can be difficult for households experiencing financial hardship. Loved Through the Holidays is our planned response: Thanksgiving meals, Christmas gifts, essential items and encouragement, with optional prayer.
Our goal is to support up to 10 unique households total across Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026, not 10 additional households for each holiday. The number served and the help provided will depend on available funds and supplies.
Receiving help
Who is eligible?
Households with or without children, including seniors and people living alone, may be considered if they currently live in:
- St. Louis City, Missouri
- St. Louis County, Missouri
- St. Clair County, Illinois
A household means one person or people who share food and essential living expenses. Separate households may share an address.
- Your household is experiencing financial hardship and needs help with holiday food, gifts or essential items. A brief statement of need is enough for the initial application. There is no fixed income cutoff.
- An adult age 18 or older submits the request for their household, or an authorized adult assists them. Submit one application per household for the holiday season.
- Receiving SNAP, Social Security or other assistance does not automatically disqualify you. We consider needs that remain unmet.
- No fee, purchase, donation, church attendance, prayer participation, photo or testimonial is required. Buying a book is never a condition of receiving help.
- Applying does not guarantee selection, every requested item or support for both holidays. Assistance depends on available funds and supplies.
No permanent address, or need help with the form? A private, assisted application option is planned. Contact details will be posted here when that option is ready. A utility bill, medical records or a detailed hardship story will not be required for the initial request.
Fair selection and privacy
How requests will be reviewed
We will review all on-time eligible requests using the same checklist, with priority for unmet food or essential-item needs. Writing skill, religion, donations and personal connections do not affect priority.
Read the selection process
- If equally prioritized requests exceed capacity, we will use a documented random selection and keep a waiting list. This is not first-come, first-served.
- Applicants may clarify missing answers. A reviewer with a personal conflict will not decide that household's request.
- We will check funds and supplies before making an offer, then tell each household whether it is selected, waitlisted or not selected and what help is confirmed or pending.
- Each household will be counted once across the campaign. Christmas needs will be checked again without a second application for households already served.
What the initial application asks
The form asks for the adult applicant's name, a phone number or email, service area, city and ZIP code, the number of adults and children, requested help and a brief statement of need or a request for a private phone conversation. It also asks for permission to review the request and contact the household. The waiting-list option is voluntary.
Do not send Social Security numbers, bank details, immigration information, medical records, ID uploads or children's names and dates of birth. Delivery addresses and gift details will only be requested later if needed to arrange selected households' assistance.
Read the privacy notice on the application before submitting. Application information will be used to review requests, communicate about this campaign and arrange approved help. It will not be posted publicly or used to add applicants to marketing lists. Prayer requests and photo permission remain separate from selection.
Suggested partnership levels
Become a Hope Partner.
Individuals, businesses, churches and community partners can help fund meals, gifts and essential items. Book purchases and Hope Initiative support are separate.
Holiday Meal Sponsor
Family Blessing Sponsor
Household Hope Partner
Give what you are able
These are suggested contributions toward the shared campaign budget, not guaranteed assistance amounts for individual households. Sponsorship is not an ownership investment, and no financial return is promised.
Give to the Love Nuggets Hope Initiative
You will be taken to our secure Square checkout page.
More ways to participate
Your time, resources, and voice can make a difference.
Donate essentials
Offer toys, coats, groceries, gift cards or household essentials. Contact us first to coordinate needed items and any drop-off arrangements.
Volunteer
Help us shop, package, pray, or assist with distribution.
Become a Partner
Join us as a church, business, or community partner.
Share the Campaign
Tell your family, friends, church, workplace, and community.
Volunteer or partner with us
Tell us how you would like to help.
This form is for sponsorship, donated goods and volunteer inquiries only. It is not an application to receive household assistance.
For partnership questions, contact:
partners@lovenuggetsministries.orgPlease note: Love Nuggets Ministries, LLC is an Illinois LLC, not a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions support the Hope Initiative and are not represented as tax-deductible charitable contributions.