Apply for Holiday Assistance

Application Forms & Resources

• 2026 Online Application — Opens October 12, 2026
• CARE Proof of Residency Form 
• CARE Earnings Verification Form

Questions about the application process? Call 479-246-0104 or email c4h@carecc.org. Please do not send application documents to this email address.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026 CARE for the Holidays / Toys for Tots Northwest Arkansas campaign open Monday, October 12, 2026.

Applications are completed online through the 2026 CARE for the Holidays application. Before beginning, please review the eligibility requirements and required documents listed below.

If you need help completing the online application or do not have internet access, CARE staff or volunteers can assist you in person, by telephone, by email, or by video call.

[Apply for Holiday Assistance]

Need help or have questions about the application process?
Call CARE Community Center at 479-246-0104 or email c4h@carecc.org.

What Happens After You Apply

After you submit your application, CARE will review the information you provided and the documents that apply to your household.

CARE may contact you to complete a short application interview or to request missing or additional information. After the review is completed, CARE will provide a Notice of Action explaining the decision or anything else that is needed.

If your application is approved, CARE will contact you separately about gift preferences and holiday-assistance pickup.

Program Rules (Read First)

• A new application is required each season, and only one application may be submitted per household. If more than one family unit lives at the same address and you are unsure whether they should be treated as separate households, contact CARE before submitting an additional application.
• Children must be at least 6 months old and no older than 15 on December 25, 2026. A child outside the standard age range may be considered through a disability exception. Requesting an exception does not guarantee approval.
• Families may apply for assistance through more than one program, but may not receive holiday assistance from another church, school, nonprofit, or holiday program and also receive assistance through CARE and Toys for Tots. If you receive assistance from another program after applying with CARE, please let CARE know as soon as possible.
• CARE does not collect specific toy wish lists as part of the 2026 application. If your application is approved, gift preferences will be collected later during a separate interview.
• Applicants must provide a working phone number and email address. CARE may use phone, voicemail, text, or email to contact you about your application, missing information, or pickup instructions.
• An authorized pickup person is optional. If you choose to name one, only one person may be listed. Choose this person carefully because the authorized pickup person generally cannot be changed after the application is submitted. If a genuine emergency occurs, contact CARE.  The authorized pickup person must present the same valid, unexpired photo ID listed on the application when picking up gifts.
• Required documents must be provided for CARE to complete the application review. Document deadlines and instructions are explained below.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Document Deadlines and Submission

CARE must receive the required documentation to review and complete your application.

• Applicants have 7 business days, not counting weekends or holidays, from the date the application is submitted to provide any missing required documents.
• If CARE later contacts you or sends a Notice of Action requesting additional information or documents, you have 3 additional business days from the date of that contact or notice to provide what is requested.
• If required documents are not received by the applicable deadline, the application may be closed or denied. Do not submit a duplicate application. Contact CARE if you have questions about a decision or need additional review.
• Applications cannot be completed until all required information and documents have been received and reviewed.
• Document-submission instructions will be provided as part of the application process.
• Do not send application documents to c4h@carecc.org. That address is for general application questions only.
• If you have questions about what documents are required, call 479-246-0104 or email c4h@carecc.org.

Service Area

Holiday assistance through the 2026 CARE for the Holidays / Toys for Tots Northwest Arkansas program is available to eligible families living in Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington Counties in Arkansas.
CARE will verify residency during application review. Selecting an eligible county on the application does not by itself establish eligibility.

Important to Know

• Submitting an application does not guarantee approval, assistance, or a particular gift. CARE will review each application for program eligibility, required documentation, and available program resources.
• CARE may contact you by phone or email if clarification, missing information, or additional documents are needed.
• CARE will make one phone call attempt and leave a voicemail when possible. Email may also be used to contact you.
• Applicants are responsible for providing a working phone number and email address and for checking messages during the application-review process.
• If your contact information changes after you apply, contact CARE at 479-246-0104 or c4h@carecc.org as soon as possible.
• Approved applicants will receive additional information about holiday-assistance pickup after their application has been reviewed.

Required Parent/Guardian Documents

• Valid, unexpired photo identification for each parent or guardian listed on the application. State, federal, or foreign government-issued photo ID is accepted.
• Current proof of residency showing the applicant’s current address in Benton, Carroll, Madison, or Washington County, Arkansas. Examples include a recent utility bill, mortgage statement, or current lease.
• If you do not have a utility bill in your name, you may use CARE’s Proof of Residency Form.

Proof of Household Income

Provide the document or documents that show the most current income information for your household. Only provide the records that apply to your situation.

A 2025 federal income tax return may be submitted, but it is not required if you provide more recent documents showing your current income.

Examples of Acceptable Proof of Income (choose those that apply)

• Pay stubs from the most recent 90 days before you apply.
• If you have multiple employers, the most recent pay stub from each employer within the last 90 days.
• Your household’s 2025 federal income tax return.
• Self-employment records from the most recent 90 days.
• Your most recent 2026 Social Security award letter, if applicable.
• Child support, TANF, military income, unemployment, and other income records that apply to your household.
• Cash jobs, trade work, odd jobs, or other cash income must be reported.
• CARE’s Earnings Verification Form when standard supporting documents are not available.
• If your entire household currently has no income, CARE may ask for additional information explaining how the household’s bills and basic needs are being paid.

Required Child Information & Documents

Standard eligibility: A child must be at least 6 months old and no older than 15 on December 25, 2026. A child outside the standard age range may be considered through a disability exception. Requesting an exception does not guarantee approval.

For each child, CARE will need:

• Full legal name and full date of birth.
• School and grade information, when applicable.
• The last four digits of the child’s Social Security number or ITIN, if available, to help prevent duplicate registration.
• A birth certificate as the standard document supporting the child’s identity and date of birth.
• If you do not have a birth certificate for a child, contact CARE before submitting a different document so staff can tell you what may be accepted.
• Custody or legal guardianship documentation when the applicant is applying as the child’s guardian or when CARE needs to verify authority to apply.