Families in Allegheny, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene, and Lawrence counties have a new resource to make the holiday season easier. NurturePA, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that offers free text-based peer support to mothers (details here) has launched their free, searchable 2026 Holiday Help Guide. Find it at www.nurturepa.org/holiday-resources.
The guide lists more than 50 free holiday resources, including places to find Thanksgiving meals and food boxes, holiday toy and gift programs, winter coat giveaways, and free holiday events. Families can search by organization name, neighborhood or ZIP code, and can filter by category.
Each listing shows who is eligible, how to sign up, and key dates. Listings are also marked when an organization confirms its 2026 details, and new resources are added as they are announced.
Image courtesy of NurturePA.
“The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of year for a new mom,” said Susan Crookston, Executive Director of NurturePA, in an announcement about this year’s Holiday Help Guide. “Our peer supporters hear from moms every year who want to give their kids a good holiday but don’t know where to start. We wanted to put everything in one place, so families can find help quickly and sign up before the deadlines pass.”
Several programs have sign-up windows that close well before the holidays. Among the dates that families may want to keep in mind:
Brashear Association (South Side, Mt. Oliver, Carrick, Mt. Washington, Brentwood) offers holiday food, gift cards and toys. Sign-ups are open only through Oct. 31.
City Rescue Mission (Lawrence County) offers Thanksgiving baskets. Their sign-ups begin Oct. 23. Families can pick up baskets on Nov. 24.
Play It Forward (Pittsburgh region) has free toys for children up to age 12. Sign-ups begin Nov. 16 and fill up quickly.
ELRC Region 5 (Allegheny County) has free winter coats for children and families, available now while supplies last
Visit NurturePA’s 2026 Holiday Help Guide to get details on these programs and many more.
To get help figuring out which programs you qualify for, sign up here for NurturePA’s free peer support (mothers of children under age 5 or women expecting babies can sign up). NurturePA peer supporters are mothers themselves, and support is available in Spanish.