Give Back This Season: 15 Holiday Drives Near You (2026) 🥧
By Steven Saucedo
Every year around this time, people ask us the same thing: where can I donate this year, and what do they actually need? So we put it all in one place.
This guide covers 15 food drives, toy drives, coat drives and volunteer shifts across Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia for the 2026 holiday season. We checked each one's dates, drop-off hours and wish lists so you know exactly what to bring and when. A few deadlines come up fast, some in the first week of November, so take a look at the deadline list near the end.
Before you shop: call ahead or check the website before you drive over. Hours change around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and most places won't take donations left outside after hours.
Food Drives and Thanksgiving Meals
Food banks see their biggest need from mid-November through New Year's. These six make it easy to give food, money or time.
Maryland Food Bank
Baltimore, MD | 2200 Halethorpe Farms Rd, Baltimore, MD 21227 (branches in Salisbury and Hagerstown)
This is the statewide food bank, so your help reaches every corner of Maryland. You can sort and pack food at the warehouse or give to its holiday campaign, which fills grocery carts with holiday food.
How to help: Volunteer a shift, or give online to the holiday grocery cart campaign. Check the website for this year's campaign details.
Volunteer rules: Ages 13 and up, able to lift 25 lbs. Volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian waiver. Youth groups need one adult for every five young volunteers.
Signing up: Individuals book at mdfoodbank.rosterfy.com, where shift times are listed. Groups of 30 or fewer use the Group Reservation Form; larger groups email volunteer@mdfoodbank.org. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early.
Website: mdfoodbank.org
Capital Area Food Bank: Season's Feedings
Washington, DC | 4900 Puerto Rico Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017
Season's Feedings is the food bank's holiday fundraiser, running November 1 through December 31, 2026, with an $85,000 goal. The food bank says every $1 provides 2 meals, so even a small gift goes a long way.
How to help: Give to the campaign online, drop off food, shop the Amazon wish list, or host your own food drive.
Food drop-off: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the DC Distribution Center. Follow the food donation signs or use the metal bins out front.
What they need: Unopened, non-perishable healthy staples like whole-grain pasta, brown rice, 100% juice and low-sodium canned vegetables. The full "Most Wanted" list is on their site.
Hosting a drive: Register online and they'll email you a kit. You deliver the food yourself, since they don't pick up.
Good to know: Team fundraising sign-ups closed October 31, but anyone can give to the campaign through December 31. Holiday-week hours weren't posted yet, so check before you go.
Website: capitalareafoodbank.org
Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)
Arlington, VA | 2708 S. Nelson St, Arlington, VA 22206
AFAC is giving each registered client a whole chicken with their groceries the week before Thanksgiving (November 16–21) and the week before Christmas (December 14–19). Donations in early November and early December help stock those two weeks.
Food drop-off: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed November 27, December 25 and January 1. Other drop-off spots are listed on their site.
What they need: Low-sugar, low-sodium canned fruit, tuna, soup, vegetables and tomatoes, plus peanut butter in plastic jars and cereal. For the holidays, they also want sugar, flour, cooking oil and coffee.
Other ways to help: Give money online, register a food drive, or sign up to volunteer.
Phone: 703-845-8486
Website: afac.org
Food for Others
Fairfax, VA | 2938 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 (Merrifield warehouse, loading dock 2)
Food for Others takes food donations year-round and has free downloadable kits if you want to run a drive at your office, school or in your neighborhood.
Food drop-off: Monday – Friday, ideally 2 – 5 p.m. (open 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Holiday schedule: Closes at 1:30 p.m. on November 25, December 11, December 24 and December 31. Closed November 26–27 and December 25, and any day Fairfax County Government closes for weather.
What they need: 100% fruit juice, canned or dry beans, chili or stew, canned fruit, masa harina, mac and cheese, 8 oz shelf-stable milk, canned pasta meals, 1 lb bags of pasta and rice, 1 lb peanut butter, soup and canned tomato products.
What they can't take: Opened, unlabeled, homemade or cooked food, or items more than three years past their date.
Phone: 703-207-9173
Website: foodforothers.org
Loudoun Hunger Relief: Thanksgiving Dinner Bag Drive
Leesburg, VA | 750 Miller Dr, Suite 110, Leesburg, VA 20175
This one is fun to shop for. You fill a reusable grocery bag with everything for a Thanksgiving dinner, and Loudoun Hunger Relief adds a frozen protein to each one.
Deadline: Bags must be dropped off by November 11, 2026.
What goes in the bag: 1–2 boxes of stuffing mix, at least 4 cans of vegetables, boxed potatoes, gravy (no glass jars), cornbread or biscuit mix, cranberry sauce, and a dry dessert mix or ingredients (no ready-made pie crusts).
Drop-off: Follow the donation signs to the garage bay door. No appointment needed. General hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – noon. Please don't leave food when they're closed.
Building a lot of bags? If you're doing more than 10, fill out the commitment form on their Thanksgiving page.
Phone: 703-777-5911
Website: loudounhunger.org/thanksgiving
Rockville Holiday Drive
Rockville, MD | Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850
The City of Rockville collects food for Thanksgiving and toys and books for December, all for local households. You can also volunteer to sort and deliver food in November or help at the Toy Shop in December.
Deadlines: Food through November 13, 2026. Toys and books through December 15, 2026.
What to give: Canned and boxed non-perishable food; new or gently used toys and books; $25 Target gift cards for teens; $15 Giant Food gift cards; or money.
Where to drop off: City Hall, plus Thomas Farm, Lincoln Park and Elwood Smith community centers, Twinbrook Community Recreation Center, Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, Rockville Senior Center and participating businesses. Email ahead for Elwood Smith.
Hours: Drop-off hours aren't posted. The city's community development office at City Hall is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Other ways to help: Shop the Amazon wish list at bit.ly/HolidayDrive2026, or volunteer at cityofrockville.galaxydigital.com/need.
Contact: hd@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8300
Website: rockvillemd.gov/holidaydrive
Toy and Gift Drives
Toy programs set their deadlines early so they have time to sort and deliver before the holidays. If you want to sponsor a child's wish list, sign up in the first half of November.
Salvation Army Angel Tree (National Capital Area)
Gift drop-off: Angel Tree warehouse, 5160 Lawrence Place, Hyattsville, MD
You "adopt" an Angel, a child 12 or younger, and shop from their wish list. It's one of the most personal ways to give, and you can do it on your own or with a group. This listing is for the DC program, which uses its own sign-up form.
Key dates: November 13 is the last day to ship gifts. Gifts must reach the warehouse by November 20. Gifts go out December 11–12, and the Salvation Army needs volunteers for those days (volunteer sign-up opens in November).
What to give: New, unwrapped toys, clothing, shoes or gift cards from your Angel's wish list. A holiday card or note is welcome. Don't include receipts, used items, liquids or your contact information.
Budget: Sponsors spend about $150 per child on average, and the program asks you to stay at or under $150.
How it works: Shop and bag the gifts yourself and drop them at the warehouse (weekdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.), or ship all of one Angel's gifts in a single box. Groups adopting 40 or more Angels get free pickup.
Questions: (202) 756-3923. Confirm the sign-up deadline when you register.
Website: salvationarmynca.org/nca/angeltree
Fairfax County Adopt-A-Family
Fairfax County, VA | Fairfax County Department of Family Services
This is the program's 20th year. You sponsor holiday gifts for a household referred by a county caseworker, and the caseworker sets up drop-off with you directly.
Deadline: Gifts must be delivered by Friday, December 11, 2026. Households are added all season, so check back if the list looks short.
What to give: Brand-new, unwrapped gifts only. The suggested budget is about $125–$150 per child, which covers 4–5 gifts plus clothing, ideally from the wish list. Gift cards are no longer accepted. Wrapping paper, gift bags and supplies are welcome.
How to sign up: Adopt through Roonga at roonga.com/fairfaxcountyaaf2026, or email dfsadoptafamily@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Questions: 703-324-7500 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or DFSinfo@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: fairfaxcounty.gov
Toys4ALX Community Toy Drive
Alexandria, VA | Volunteer Alexandria
Volunteer Alexandria is aiming for 3,500 gifts this year for about 800 kids ages 0–12, through the City of Alexandria's holiday sharing program.
Dates: November 16 – December 14, 2026.
What to give: New toys, games, sports items and educational toys. Baby items are needed too: onesies, sleepers, crib mobiles, crib toys, rattles and infant clothing.
What they can't take: Used gifts, toy guns of any kind (including Nerf and dart blasters), clothing for ages 2 and up, food or bikes.
Where to drop off: Drop-off sites hadn't been posted yet when we checked, so look on their website in November. You can also ship a toy directly or give money.
Host a box: Register a public bin or a private collection at your office or apartment building through their website.
Contact: 703-836-2176 or mail@volunteeralexandria.org
Website: volunteeralexandria.org/toydrive
Coat and Clothing Drives
Now's a good time to clean out the coat closet. Coats, gloves and warm clothes in good shape go a long way once the cold sets in.
Martha's Table
Washington, DC | The Commons, 2375 Elvans Rd SE, and The Maycroft, 1474 Columbia Rd NW
Martha's Table takes coats and clothing all fall and winter, plus canned goods for its free markets and prepared food for its McKenna's Wagon meal service.
Clothing they take: New or gently used coats, scarves and gloves; kids' and baby clothes; shoes; business and business-casual clothes; and children's books. Everything should be clean, in good repair, folded and packed in sturdy boxes or bags.
Food they take: Canned goods, sandwiches, trail mix, and one-pot or catered meals for 200.
Drop-off hours: Clothing Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; food Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Hand items to staff. No weekend or holiday drop-offs, and they're closed November 11 (Veterans Day).
24/7 clothing bins: 2626 Mozart Pl NW, 3300 13th St NW, 5001 Connecticut Ave NW, 4201 Albemarle St NW and 4812 MacArthur Blvd NW.
What they can't take: Furniture, household goods, electronics, mattresses or hangers.
Phone: 202-328-6608
Website: marthastable.org
Mayor on the Square Coat & Food Drive
New Windsor, MD | Fountain Park, 201 Main St, New Windsor, MD 21776
A one-morning drive in Carroll County. Donations go to the New Windsor Food Bank and the Blessings Closet.
Date & hours: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 9 a.m. – noon.
What to bring: Coats, non-perishable food and toiletries.
Sign-up: None. Just bring your donations.
Phone: 410-635-6575
Website: newwindsormd.gov
Greensboro Winter Clothes Drive
Greensboro, MD | Greensboro Town Hall, 111 S. Main St, Greensboro, MD 21639
On the Eastern Shore, the Town of Greensboro collects winter clothes for a free give-away day. This one moves fast, so drop off early.
Drop-off deadline: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Town Hall, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Give-away day: Friday, November 6, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 3 – 7 p.m. at the Greensboro Community Center.
What to bring: New or gently used winter clothing.
Phone: (410) 482-6222
Website: greensboromd.org
Give Your Time: Volunteer, Ride or Run
If you'd rather show up than ship a box, these three put you to work, on a bike, at a starting line or in a kitchen.
Cranksgiving Downtown Columbia
Columbia, MD | The Plaza at The Mall in Columbia, 10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
A food drive on two wheels. You bike to the grocery store of your choice, buy items from the most-needed list, and pedal them back to the Plaza. The food goes to Grassroots Crisis Intervention.
Date & hours: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: Registration is free. You only pay for the food you buy.
What to buy: Canned meals, canned meats, Chunky or Progresso soups, condensed soups, Knorr rice or pasta side pouches, and fruit or applesauce cups.
Sign up: Register on BikeSignup (search "Cranksgiving Downtown Columbia") by 11:59 a.m. on November 6.
Website: bikesignup.com
SOME Trot for Hunger 5K
Washington, DC | Freedom Plaza, 1325 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
The 25th annual Trot for Hunger is a Thanksgiving morning tradition. Proceeds support So Others Might Eat's meals, housing, healthcare and job training programs. Bring the dog, too: there's a Best Dressed Turkey contest for pets.
Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day).
Start times: Little Turkey 1-Miler at 7:30 a.m. 5K at 8:15 a.m. (start line closes at 8:45 a.m.). Pet contest at 9:30 a.m.
Cost: $65 for the 5K, $15 for the 1-Miler, $25 for the pet contest, $45 for the virtual 5K.
Can't make it downtown? The virtual 5K can be run anywhere, any time November 1–30.
Tip: Register by November 4 to be guaranteed a race shirt.
Website: some.org/trot-for-hunger-5k
DC Central Kitchen
Washington, DC | Klein Center, 2121 First St SW, Washington, DC 20024
book November and December now. They fill up fast around the holidays.
Shift times: Morning shifts start at 9 a.m. daily. Weekday evening shifts run 6 – 8 p.m.
Ages: 12 and up. Volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.
How to book: Use the online Volunteer Portal. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead in the portal, or call (202) 234-0707 for last-minute changes.
Prefer to give money? Donate at dccentralkitchen.org/donate.
Website: dccentralkitchen.org/volunteer
Quick Answers
Where can I donate food for Thanksgiving in Maryland? The Maryland Food Bank serves the whole state. In Montgomery County, the Rockville Holiday Drive collects Thanksgiving food through November 13. In Howard County, you can join Cranksgiving on November 7.
Where can I donate toys near DC? The Salvation Army Angel Tree (DC program), Toys4ALX in Alexandria, Fairfax County Adopt-A-Family and the Rockville Holiday Drive all collect new toys. Rockville also takes gently used toys and books.
Can I donate used coats? Yes. Martha's Table in DC and the coat drives in New Windsor and Greensboro take new or gently used coats and winter clothes in good condition.
What if my own household could use a hand this season? Several of these organizations also give out food and holiday help. Their websites explain how to sign up.
Make This Season Count
Pick one thing on this list and put it on your calendar. A bag of groceries, a wish list for one child, or a Saturday morning in a warehouse all make a real difference for a neighbor. And if you're running a drive at your office or school, most of these groups will hand you a kit to get started.
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Maryland or DC? The Saucedo Team has helped buyers and sellers across Maryland and DC for more than 10 years. We're one of the top-performing teams in the DMV and one of the top bilingual (English/Spanish) teams in the region. Reach out anytime at steven@thesaucedoteam.com or (240) 778-8260.
The Saucedo Team | Keller Williams Flagship of Maryland, 231 Najoles Road, Suite 100, Millersville, MD 21108 | (410) 729-7700. Equal Housing Opportunity.