The Holiday Hope Project

We believe every child deserves to experience the joy and excitement of Christmas, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

Our Holiday Hope Project is dedicated to filling the gaps in existing holiday assistance programs by supporting children and youth who may otherwise go without during the Christmas season.

What’s New for 2026?

This year, FreeHelpCK is proud to expand our Holiday Hope Project to reach even more children and youth across Chatham-Kent.

Previously, our program focused primarily on children living in communities outside of Chatham. For 2026, we have expanded our reach to include youth ages 13–15 throughout Chatham-Kent who are not receiving Christmas assistance through other local organizations. We recognize that teenagers can sometimes be overlooked during the holiday season. As children grow older, their needs and interests change, but the excitement of Christmas and the joy of receiving a thoughtful gift remain just as meaningful.

Through the generosity of local businesses, donors, and community members, FreeHelpCK hopes to provide meaningful Christmas gifts that remind these young individuals that they are valued, remembered, and supported.

Holiday Hope Project Eligibility

Please review the following criteria to determine whether your child may qualify for assistance through our 2026 Holiday Hope Project:

1. Do you reside within Chatham-Kent?
2. Is your child between the ages of 13 and 15?
3. Is your child currently NOT receiving Christmas assistance from another local organization?
   (Including Chatham/Tilbury Goodfellows, Salvation Army, The Gift, or other holiday assistance programs.)

If you answered YES to all three questions, your child may be eligible for our 2026 Holiday Hope Project. *Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the Holiday Hope Project or the receipt of Christmas assistance*

Registration Opens November 12th, 2026

Registration for the 2026 Holiday Hope Project will officially open on Thursday, November 12th, 2026.

The application link will be made available on our website. We encourage families to follow our social media pages for important announcements and program updates.

Important Information Regarding Applications

*Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the Holiday Hope Project or the receipt of Christmas assistance*

To ensure our program reaches youth who are not receiving support elsewhere, FreeHelpCK has implemented an application screening and verification process.

As part of this process, applications will be cross-checked with other local organizations providing Christmas assistance to help prevent duplicate registrations and ensure support is distributed as fairly as possible. All applications will be reviewed to determine eligibility based on the program’s criteria and available resources.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure that our Holiday Hope Project reaches those who may otherwise fall through the gaps of existing holiday assistance programs.

Help Fill the Gaps This Christmas

The Holiday Hope Project is about more than providing gifts. It’s about ensuring that young people who may otherwise be overlooked during the holiday season know they have not been forgotten.

Through the generosity of our community, we hope to ease the financial pressures families face while bringing joy and the magic of Christmas to youth ages 13–15 across Chatham-Kent.

Want to help make Christmas a little brighter? Sponsor a child this holiday season!

• Holiday Hope Angel Trees: Select an angel from one of our Angel Trees throughout Chatham-Kent and help make Christmas special for a child. Locations will be announced soon!
• Monetary Sponsorship: Sponsor a child with a $50 donation by clicking the Donate button at the top of this page.