Christmas Assistance Program
Helping make Christmas more special for children and youth in our community since 2019.
Register TodayRegistration is open November 1 – November 30, 2026.
If you miss the registration deadline, we encourage you to send us an email. [email protected]
The Crystal Ridge Dream Center Christmas Assistance Program has been serving local families since 2019. To date, we have helped make Christmas more special for more than 1,473 children and youth in need throughout our community.
This would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors and the dedication of our staff and volunteers.
If you are a parent, legal guardian, grandparent or primary caregiver experiencing financial hardship, we invite you to apply for Christmas assistance for your dependent children and youth from birth through 18 years of age.
What to Expect From Our Program
We want every family to feel supported and appreciated — and we also want to be transparent about what our program is designed to provide.
Our Christmas Assistance Program is an extension of help — not a replacement for Christmas. We are here to ease the burden, not to provide everything a child receives on Christmas morning.
We aim to provide each child and youth (ages 0–18) with approximately $125 worth of gifts. What that looks like will vary depending on the child's age — younger children and teenagers have very different needs and interests, and we do our best to reflect that.
We can only give what we receive. Our ability to help depends entirely on the generosity of our donors and the resources available to us each year. We are grateful for every contribution and do our very best to stretch every dollar.
We kindly ask that all families approach the program with grace and understanding. Our staff and volunteers work incredibly hard to make this possible, and we appreciate your patience and gratitude as we serve our community together.
~$125
Our goal is to provide approximately $125 worth of gifts per child or youth (ages 0–18). What that looks like varies by age — and we do our best to make every gift feel thoughtful and personal.
Important Information Before Applying
Submitting an application does not guarantee approval or assistance. Every application will be reviewed to confirm eligibility, financial need and available program resources.
The Crystal Ridge Dream Center reserves the right to ask reasonable questions about household income, financial circumstances and eligibility. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information.
Applicants may be unable to receive assistance if they do not meet the program requirements, submit all required documents or provide truthful information.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for Christmas assistance, you must:
- Be a parent, legal guardian, grandparent or primary caregiver.
- Live within the Town of Fort Erie, including Fort Erie, Ridgeway, Crystal Beach, Stevensville or another community located within the Town of Fort Erie.
- Be applying for dependent children or youth who are 18 years of age or younger.
- Demonstrate genuine financial need.
- Submit only one application per household and include all eligible children in that application.
- Be available to pick up the assistance in person on your assigned pickup date and time.
- Not be registered with, approved by or receiving Christmas assistance for the same children from another organization.
Cross-Referencing With Other Organizations
The Crystal Ridge Dream Center works with other local organizations to help prevent duplication of Christmas assistance services.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to consent to the Crystal Ridge Dream Center verifying limited applicant and household information with participating local organizations. Applicants who are registered to receive Christmas assistance through another organization will not be eligible to receive assistance through our program.
Required Documents
The following documents must be attached to your application:
- Government-issued identification for the applicant
- Proof of your current address
- Identification for every child and household member included in the application
- Current proof of household income or financial need
Accepted documents may include:
- Health card
- Driver's licence
- Ontario Photo Card
- Birth certificate
- Recent pay stub
- Ontario Works statement or slip
- ODSP statement or slip
- Other government-issued identification or documentation showing current income or financial need
Applications that do not include all required identification and financial documents cannot be fully reviewed.
Application Notifications
After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirming that it has been received. This confirmation does not mean that your application has been approved.
Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive another email advising whether your application has been approved, placed on a waitlist, or unable to be approved.
Please provide an email address that you check regularly and review your junk or spam folder for messages from the Crystal Ridge Dream Center.
Assistance Pickup
Christmas assistance will be distributed on Thursday, December 17 and Friday, December 18, 2026.
Approved applicants will be assigned a specific pickup date and time. The applicant must pick up the assistance in person and may be required to present identification.
Ready to Apply?
Registration is open November 1 – November 30, 2026. Click the button below to complete your application.
Register TodayMissed the deadline? Send us an email and we will do our best to help. [email protected]