5 Nonprofits To Help This Christmas In GA

The giving season is upon Georgia, and while families are gathering gifts for loved ones, they may be wondering how to help their local communities in a time when some are in need.

If donating money is not an option, one may consider volunteering their time to serve holiday meals or distribute toys to children. Perhaps, those who wish to help may find joy in caring for the unsheltered community.

The United Way Greater Atlanta is a nonprofit of nonprofits that gathers resources and funding for its community partners in 13 counties. On its website, the United Way has a list of ways to give or volunteer.

Here are five other nonprofits in Georgia you may consider benefitting this Christmas:

1. The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta will host its 43rd Annual Can-A-Thon from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. It will be sponsored by the Salvation Army, 11Alive and Publix. Collections from the food drive will be used to re-stock the Salvation Army's 13 pantries in metro Atlanta.

"You can bring hope to our neighbors in need by collecting and donating non-perishable food items on Dec. 5 at several locations throughout metro Atlanta. Whether you're a company interested in giving back or a community member who wants to help their neighbor in need this holiday season, Can-A-Thon is a great opportunity to make a positive impact," the Salvation Army wrote.

Donations can be dropped off at one of the following locations:

• Salvation Army of Gwinnett County, 3455 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Lawrenceville
• Salvation Army of Marietta, 202 Waterman St. SE, Marietta
• Salvation Army Kroc Center, 967 Dewey St., Atlanta
• Salvation Army Peachcrest, 3500 Sherrydale Lane, Decatur
• Town at Trilith, 210 Trilith Pkwy., Fayetteville

There are volunteer opportunities to gather donations, and financial contributions are being collected until Dec. 31, New Year's Eve. Donors may also shop from the Salvation Army's Amazon wish list.

2. The Empty Stocking Fund

The Empty Stocking Fund donates new toys to children in need for Christmas.

Volunteers are accepted through December to help pack toys. Additional volunteer opportunities include cleaning and organizing the fund's warehouse, 693 Humphries St. SW in Atlanta, from January through March. Snacks and beverages are provided for volunteers, according to the fund.

"Unlike many nonprofits that distribute holiday gifts to disadvantaged children, ESF allows parents to choose which toys and gifts they want to give their children and to give them to them however and whenever they choose," the fund wrote.

If someone would like to sponsor a child or help gather monetary donations throughout the year, the fund said those opportunities are available throughout the year.

3. Marine Corps. Reserve Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is another organization that offers gifts to children for Christmas.

"Since 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed 708 million toys to 314 million children," Toys for Tots wrote.

If someone cannot volunteer their time, they can provide their space by being a public drop-off location or by hosting an event for Toys for Tots. Toy donations are also being accepted.

Local chapters can be found online.

4. Must Ministries

The Must Ministries Toy Shop benefits children in Cobb and Cherokee counties, as well as in Roswell. Children up to 18-years-old can receive free Christmas gifts.

"Without gifts, the holidays can be a disappointing time for children in poverty. Must serves more than 6,000 children each Christmas with the necessary gift of hope," the organization wrote.

The nonprofit provides new toys, blankets, hats, scarves, gloves, underwear, socks and a game. Must Ministries also has an Amazon wish list.

The group donation center is located at 1280 Field Pkwy. in Marietta. (See a full list of Must Ministries locations.)

Anyone seeking to aid Must Ministries can do so by donating new items. Financial contributions can be made online.

5. Make-A-Wish Georgia

The Georgia chapter's Wish Your Way Fundraising campaign is now underway through January 2026. The organization says it has granted at least 10,000 wishes for children in the last three decades.

"This holiday season, we are inviting the local legal community to come together in the spirit of giving. Between November 2025 and January 2026, we will grant 100 wishes to wish children who have a critical illness. That's almost one wish per day. Each wish represents hope, happiness and healing, often at a moment when wish families need it most," Make-A-Wish wrote.

Monetary donations are being accepted, but people can also start a team challenge or fundraiser to assist Make-A-Wish.

Fundraisers can be found online.