At least three deadlines are nearing to give or receive help for a few holiday aid programs benefiting Wayne County children.
Additional programs typically ramp up in November, and Western Wayne News will share more information as it becomes available.
Salvation Army
Families across Wayne County are encouraged to begin gathering information needed to apply for Salvation Army’s annual Christmas assistance.
Applications will be accepted between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, through Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 707 S. A St., Richmond.
Signups are open to Wayne County residents who have children age 16 or younger.
Families must provide an identification card with photo for the head of household, plus proof of address and a valid phone number and email address for office use in case further contact is needed.
They also need proof of each child in the household by showing one form of ID per child (either a Social Security card, birth certificate, letter from DHS or guardianship letter).
For more information about giving or receiving aid, email [email protected] or call 765-966-7791.
Volunteers are sought to help with bell ringing at local stores, angel tree setup, distribution and cleanup.
Donations may be mailed to the Richmond office or sent online at donate.salvationarmyindiana.org/give/241908.
In addition, Salvation Army has new regular hours for its personal care products and food pantry. It’s open from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays-Thursdays.
Communities in Schools
Communities in Schools of Wayne County seeks donors to sponsor children in Centerville-Abington, Nettle Creek and Northeastern school districts who applied for aid.
If their children are sponsored, parents will be able to secretly pick up their children’s gifts before the holidays by appointment.
Sponsors are asked to register to help by Oct. 30. Personalized wish lists are to be distributed during early November.
Sponsors are to spend no more than $100 per student and deliver their gifts by Dec. 10 to the CIS office at 800 Mendleson Drive in Richmond. To date, more than 150 students are registered for the program.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 765-983-2238.
Nettle Creek
Nettle Creek Community Coalition is accepting families’ applications for aid through Oct. 31 at nettlecreekcommunitycoalition.org.
Families must live in the Hagerstown-area school district and qualify for free/reduced school meals. Children must be high school seniors or younger.
The Christmas Assistance Program is a partnership for the coalition, 3Rivers Federal Credit Union and Jefferson Township.
In 2025, the coalition provided gifts for 75 children across 31 local families.
For more information, call Nettle Creek Community Coalition at 765-489-4824 or Andrea Cox with 3Rivers at 765-373-8763.
Send news about upcoming holiday philanthropy opportunities to [email protected] for publication consideration.
A version of this article appeared in the October 28 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.