Holiday Food and Gifts
FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE OBERLIN RESIDENTS
Our annual holiday food distributions ensure that every Oberlin family has access to the ingredients for delicious and plentiful dinners at Thanksgiving and during December holidays, while our Holiday Helping Hands program ensures every Oberlin child can receive gifts this season.
Please carefully read this page before registering for holiday events!
During the holidays, family and friends gather to bond and celebrate their love for each other. Food is an important these cultural touchstones, and everyone should have the basic ingredients to prepare holiday meals.
OCS will hold a distribution for Thanksgiving food and another for December holiday food. During each, we will open the choice pantry to preregistered Oberlin residents at the Cooper Center, 500 E. Lorain St., Oberlin.
During this time, you may choose to instead receive a prepacked box through our curbside pick-up service at the Cooper Center. JFO and Concord Manor residents can come to the pantry or request delivery.
Thanksgiving Food
Thanksgiving distribution will be Thursday, Nov. 20 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. The deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 7.
Each household will receive a turkey. Those that attend the choice pantry will be able to browse an assortment of ingredients associated with traditional Thanksgiving dishes and choose which their families will enjoy best.
Those who opt to receive curbside or delivered boxes will receive ingredients from a standard menu set by staff.
December Holidays
Food for the December holidays will be distributed Thursday, Dec. 18 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. The deadline to register is ?????????
During registration, each household will choose whether to receive a ham or turkey. Those that attend the choice pantry will be able to browse an assortment of ingredients associated with traditional holiday dishes and choose which their families will enjoy best.
Those who opt to receive curbside or delivered boxes will receive ingredients from a standard menu set by staff.
Holiday Food Registration
Holiday Helping Hands (gifts!)
Winter can be a difficult time, especially when it comes to the cost of delivering presents during the holidays. Sometimes you need a helping hand!
Oberlin Community Services works to ensure an opportunity for every child in Oberlin to have a great season. We match children ages 0-17 from income-eligible Oberlin families with a sponsor in the community. Sponsors purchase gifts, wrap them, and deliver them to our office for parents to pick up.
To participate, you MUST REGISTER before Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
Please note that signing up for a holiday food distribution DOES NOT automatically sign you up for Holiday Helping Hands. To receive gifts, you MUST complete and submit the separate Holiday Helping Hands registration form.
HOW TO SPONSOR HOLIDAY HELPING HANDS
You can make an Oberlin family’s holidays bright! To help, please call OCS at (440) 774-6579 at your earliest possible convenience. We will provide non-identifying information to help you select a great gift for them! There is no limit to how many kids you can sponsor.