With the federal government reopened, the long-awaited return of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is finally underway. According to Newsweek, recipients can expect the restoration of payments in the coming days. However, the timing and process may vary by state. That means some families will see benefits restored sooner than others, while food banks and local aid groups continue to fill the gap for those still waiting. The prolonged interruption has already deepened financial stress, with many mothers and caregivers relying on community resources to get by. This holiday season remains a crucial moment not only for relief but for rebuilding stability. Donating food, essentials, or time can help women and families bridge the remaining gap between what federal systems restore and what communities still urgently need.

To Help Those in Need of Food

Food insecurity touches every part of a family’s life, from children’s ability to focus in school to a parent’s mental health. Supporting local food systems helps women and mothers meet an essential need with dignity and choice.

Donate to a Local Food Bank

Supporting local food banks and pantries remains one of the most direct and effective ways to help women and mothers struggling to feed their families. While large organizations do important work, smaller, community-based food programs often know their neighborhoods best. They which schools have students skipping meals and which elders are quietly running out of groceries. When you donate, check what your local pantry needs most. Some accept canned goods and non-perishables, while others prefer gift cards or financial donations so they can buy in bulk. Volunteer shifts are just as valuable as donations: sorting, packing, or delivering food ensures your effort has immediate impact. Remember that hunger doesn’t end when the holidays do. Recurring donations or monthly volunteer commitments help families year-round.

Find Help

If you or someone you know is struggling to access food, FindHelp.org is a free online database that connects people directly to assistance programs by ZIP code. It includes listings for food pantries, free meal programs, and SNAP resources, along with rent, childcare, and medical aid. You can’t donate through FindHelp, but sharing it or bookmarking it could be a lifeline for someone in need.

To Help Those Out of Work

Employment is about confidence, stability, and independence. For women and mothers seeking to rebuild after financial hardship, these organizations help open doors to opportunity and self-sufficiency.

Dress for Success

For women who are out of work or re-entering the workforce, Dress for Success provides clothing and confidence. Through local affiliates, women receive professional outfits for interviews and access to career coaching, resume support, and leadership programs. Donations of gently used business attire, handbags, shoes, and jewelry are always welcome, as are financial contributions that help fund job-readiness programs. Supporting Dress for Success means investing in the dignity and independence of women who are ready to rebuild their careers.

Women’s Bean Project

Based in Denver, the Women’s Bean Project hires chronically unemployed women, paying them steady wages while teaching critical job and life skills. The women make products sold nationwide such as soups, snacks, and baking mixes. Every purchase helps sustain their employment. Monetary donations or online purchases are both impactful ways to support this work, though it’s important to note that the employment program itself is limited to women living in Denver.

Salvation Army Employment Programs

Across the country, the Salvation Army’s Adult Program Services connect adults with job training, skill-building, and placement programs. For women out of work, these centers often serve as a bridge between instability and employment. Donating to your local branch ensures that someone can attend a training session, get transportation assistance, or buy professional clothing for a new job.

To Help Those in Need of Reproductive and Menstrual Support

Access to menstrual and reproductive care is a basic need that too often goes unmet. These organizations provide products, education, and direct aid to help women manage their health safely and with dignity.

Coalition for Black Women’s Wellness

The Coalition for Black Women’s Wellness supports the health and reproductive well-being of Black women through community outreach and wellness programs. Donations fund workshops, screenings, and the distribution of menstrual and hygiene products in underserved communities. Your contribution helps ensure that reproductive care is accessible and culturally responsive.

Yellowhammer Fund

For many in the Deep South, accessing abortion care means navigating impossible logistics—long travel distances, time off work, and the cost of procedures. The Yellowhammer Fund provides financial and practical support to people in Alabama and neighboring states who need reproductive care but can’t afford it. Donations help cover clinic fees, lodging, transportation, and childcare, directly easing the burden on women facing urgent health decisions.

F2B Collective

The F2B Collective fights menstrual inequity through product drives and education initiatives. By donating, you help provide pads, tampons, and menstrual cups to those who can’t consistently afford them. Their work highlights how something as basic as a menstrual product can determine whether a person attends school or work without interruption.

Black Girls CAN

Black Girls CAN Inc. works to ensure that Black girls and women have the menstrual, reproductive, and self-care resources they need. The organization hosts community events and provides care packages with period products and personal-care essentials. Donations directly fund these kits and outreach efforts.

Soymilk & Hope

Soymilk & Hope is a small, community-based initiative that sends menstrual care packages to women and girls experiencing financial hardship. Each package includes essentials like pads, wipes, and personal notes of encouragement. Supporting this organization means helping preserve dignity and comfort for women who might otherwise have to choose between food and menstrual care.

For Those in Need of Healthcare

Healthcare gaps leave many women, especially mothers, without consistent access to specialists, preventive care, or basic medical support. The organizations below work to bridge that divide by bringing quality care directly to underserved communities.

The MAVEN Project

The MAVEN Project connects volunteer physicians with safety-net clinics through telehealth, providing specialty medical care to uninsured and under-insured patients. Your donation supports the technology and training that allow local clinics, often serving women and mothers, to access expert consultation without sending patients hundreds of miles away. It’s an innovative way to close healthcare gaps and ensure everyone receives the care they deserve.

To Help Mothers and Families in Need of Housing or Shelter

When a family loses housing, other forms of stability like food, work and childcare, become harder to maintain. Supporting housing and shelter organizations ensures women and children have a safe place to start over.

Family Promise

This organization operates a nationwide network of congregations and volunteers who provide temporary housing, meals, and case management for families experiencing homelessness. Donations support everything from rental assistance to after-school programs.

YWCA USA

The YWCA plays a major role in housing women safely. Many local branches run domestic violence shelters and transitional housing programs, providing safety, counseling, and support for survivors. Financial gifts to YWCA go directly toward emergency lodging, beds, and supplies for mothers and children escaping violence.

To Help Mothers in Need of Mental Health Support

The invisible weight mothers carry often goes unseen. These organizations help women access therapy, community, and care that strengthen their mental and emotional well-being.

The Loveland Foundation

The Loveland Foundation provides therapy scholarships for Black women and girls, helping them access culturally competent mental-health care. Donations fund therapy sessions for those who might otherwise be priced out of care.

Postpartum Support International

Postpartum Support International offers a helpline, online support groups, and a therapist directory for new parents experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety. Your gift helps expand those free services to more families.

Sad Girls Club

Sad Girls Club builds community for Gen Z and millennial women navigating mental-health challenges. Donations help fund workshops, group therapy sessions, and digital resources aimed at breaking stigma and making support accessible.

Giving That Makes a Difference

No matter your budget or bandwidth, there’s a way to make an impact this holiday season. Whether you’re donating to a local food pantry, purchasing goods from a social enterprise, or funding therapy for a mother in need, your generosity directly affects the lives of women and families working hard to get by.