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Need help putting gifts under the tree this Christmas? Several Austin-area organizations help local families with free toys, gifts, clothing, and holiday assistance each year. Whether you're facing a temporary financial setback, stretching every dollar a little further this season, or simply need extra support, there are programs designed to help make the holidays brighter for children.

Because application deadlines often arrive weeks or even months before Christmas and many programs have limited capacity, it's important to apply as early as possible. This guide includes some of the best-known Christmas assistance programs in Austin and the surrounding area, along with information on who qualifies and how to apply.

This fall, Life Is Better With Friends, founded by local mom and children's book author Birgit Sund, partnered with Book Drive for Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing book ownership for children through free book fairs, community programs, and Pop‑Up Bookshops across the Austin area.

After learning about the incredible work Book Drive for Kids is doing in our community, Birgit decided to organize a book drive in support of their mission. As the author of My Friends and I, a friendship memory book for kids ages 5–12, she knows firsthand how much thought, heart, and creativity authors pour into their books and how passionate they are about supporting literacy and helping put great stories into the hands of young readers. With that in mind, she reached out to her community of children's book authors from across the nation and invited them to donate copies of their books.

The response was overwhelming, resulting in a fantastic collection of books for Austin-area children to discover, choose, and take home.

Life Is Better With Friends, founded by a local mom and author in the Austin area, is teaming up with the North Pole to deliver pure holiday magic to families across Texas. Your inbox is about to get a glow-up—because this year, something cheerful, sparkly, and straight from Santa’s desk is headed your way.

Santa’s got his cocoa, the elves are on glitter patrol, and the reindeer are doing warm-up laps—because this year’s mail is packed with praise, giggles, and a little North Pole mischief. Whether your kid rescued a bug, shared their snack, or asked if snow tastes like marshmallows, they’ve earned a moment of magic.

Hurry, spots are limited—request your child's free Santa letter and Nice List certificate now!

Mark your calendars and gather your crew — KidFest is back on May 2, 2026, and this year’s celebration is shaping up to be the most exciting one yet! Think big energy, big smiles, and big memories all packed into one unforgettable afternoon.

It's never too early to start thinking about summer camps. Especially when registration for some summer camps are already open or closing soon or when they're free.

Free camps? Yes, there is such a thing as free camps. We've done quite some research to find camps in and around Austin (up to a 4 hr radius) that are not a financial burden to families, especially families that already have enough to worry about.

Calling all book-loving families, storytime superstars, and parents of tiny page‑turners!

Does your kid devour books like snacks, or melt into your lap the moment you say, “Once upon a time…”?

We’re swimming in amazing children’s book submissions — a wonderful problem to have — but there are simply too many for us to review on our own. And saying “no” to authors who pour their hearts into these stories? It hurts our book‑loving souls.

So… we had an idea. A fun one. A community-powered, story-celebrating, book‑sharing idea - and a chance for you and your littles to receive free children’s books in exchange for writing honest reviews.

Attention, parents and gift-givers! It's time to unwrap the joy of the holiday season with this fantastic giveaway! Imagine winning not one, not ten, but a whopping 21 picture books all ready to transport the children in your life to a world of imagination, laughter, and adventure.

This giveaway is a Santa's sleigh-load of joy, ready to deliver smiles and treasured memories under the tree. Get ready to make this holiday season extra special, because these 21 picture books are the gift that keeps on giving, creating cherished memories one page at a time! Read on to enter.

NB Kidsfest is the Hill Country’s largest hands-on, creative festival for kids and parents! This weekend-long celebration of the imagination takes place on April 29th and April 30th at the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center in New Braunfels, Texas!

With interactive fun, dozens of activity stations, and 120+ exhibitors, the 11th Annual NB KIDSFEST will be filled with imaginative play for kids while providing a quality experience for the entire family.

The City of Bee Cave and the Bee Cave Public Library will host their second annual free Books and Bees Festival on April 1st and April 2nd at the Bee Cave Galleria. This year, we are hosting a two-day event including our first ever HoneyFest!

As a hub of literacy for children and adults, our Bee Cave Public Library hosts programs year round that serve hundreds of families in the area and beyond. As a Bee City USA affiliate, the City of Bee Cave is dedicated to educating the public and helping conserve this most important insect. Our one-of-a-kind Books & Bees Festival helps accomplish our two missions - share fantastic literature with kids and adults alike, featuring high-profile, bestselling authors – and teach our residents and their kiddos more about bees! We have so many fun activities, entertainment and readings in store, you will not want to miss this FREE event! 

The average costs for school supplies every year is $35 which creates an extra burden for already challenged families as well as for teachers, who often spend their own money buying missing supplies for their classrooms and students.

In order to ease the burden of both families and teachers, school districts that are continuously facing tighter budgets, are trying to outsource the financial obligation by requesting that parents help provide  these supplies. 

Here is a list of Back-to-School Programs and School-Supply Drives in and around Austin.

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