Between Thanksgiving and January, families already living at the margin face compounded financial pressure — holiday expenses, peak heating bills, reduced work hours, and post-holiday income gaps all collide at once.
Acts of Kindness FoundationFoundation-administered program
Holiday Support Fund
Essential utility and household support during the most financially strained season of the year.
Program status
Payment links publish here once approved. This page is the public record for readiness, verification, and next support steps.
Acts of Kindness FoundationFoundation-administered program
Acts of Kindness FoundationFoundation-administered program
InitiativeSeasonal initiative
Holiday Support Fund
Essential utility and household support during the most financially strained season of the year.
Foundation-administered support with verification standards and privacy-aware reporting.
Part ofHousing Stability & Eviction Prevention
The holidays are hardest for families already at the margin.
Between Thanksgiving and January, families across the Inland Empire face a compounding financial squeeze that pushes many to the breaking point. Holiday expenses collide with peak heating bills. Seasonal employment gaps reduce income just when costs spike. For households already stretching every dollar between rent and groceries, this stretch can force impossible choices — heat or food, gifts or electricity, staying current on bills or falling behind. The Holiday Support Fund provides essential stabilization during this period: utility payment assistance, household supplies, and emergency support through verified partner agencies, so families can make it through the most financially strained season of the year.
About this program
The Holiday Support Fund is a seasonal initiative under the Foundation’s Housing Stability & Eviction Prevention pillar. Operating during the November-through-January period, this initiative provides utility payment assistance, essential household supplies, and stabilization support to families facing compounded seasonal financial hardship across Riverside County. All utility payments are made directly to providers. Household supplies are purchased from approved vendors and distributed through verified partner agencies. No cash is distributed to individuals or families. The initiative is designed to prevent utility shutoffs, housing instability, and essential-needs crises during the period when seasonal costs are highest and household budgets are most strained. Assistance is not guaranteed and is subject to program capacity, partner availability, and verified need.
Our approach
How this program delivers
The Holiday Support Fund provides vendor-paid utility assistance and essential household support through verified partner agencies — keeping families housed and heated when seasonal costs push them to the breaking point.
Every dollar is allocated with full Foundation oversight and reported transparently. Supporters can see exactly how their contributions stabilize families through our transparency page.
Who this program serves
- Families facing utility shutoffs during winter — particularly those with past-due balances compounded by peak heating costs
- Households with compounded holiday financial pressure from seasonal expenses, gift expectations, and reduced income
- Seniors on fixed incomes during peak heating season who face impossible choices between warmth, medication, and other essentials
- Working families experiencing seasonal employment gaps — including those in retail, construction, and service industries with reduced winter hours
What support looks like
- Utility payment assistance paid directly to providers — electricity, gas, and water payments to prevent shutoffs during peak winter months
- Essential household supplies through partner organizations — cleaning products, hygiene items, and basic household necessities
- Emergency heating support coordination — connecting families with LIHEAP, utility company hardship programs, and community heating assistance
- Holiday period stabilization through verified agencies — comprehensive intake and case management to address compounded seasonal needs
How we verify need
- Partner agency intake and need documentation — household financial assessment and seasonal hardship verification
- Utility company billing verification to confirm past-due balances, shutoff risk, and payment amounts
- Household financial hardship assessment through partner organizations within Riverside County’s human services network
- Foundation oversight and case documentation — payment records, partner compliance review, and outcome reporting
How funds are delivered
Acts of Kindness Foundation administers all funds for the Holiday Support Fund with full discretion over allocation and distribution. Utility payments are made directly to providers. Household supplies are purchased from approved vendors and distributed through verified partner agencies. No cash is distributed to individuals or families. Assistance is subject to program capacity, partner availability, and verified need — this initiative does not constitute an entitlement or guarantee of service. All vendor payments, utility disbursements, partner records, and case documentation are maintained and reported through the Foundation’s transparency page.
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This program is supported with Foundation oversight
Review the program, the Foundation model, and the standards that guide how every contribution is administered with care and accountability.
Have questions?
What supporters ask
How is this different from the Thanksgiving Food Basket Initiative?
The Thanksgiving Food Basket focuses specifically on providing a complete holiday meal. The Holiday Support Fund addresses broader seasonal financial hardship — utility payments, essential household supplies, and stabilization support during the November-through-January period when costs compound and incomes drop.
What types of utility assistance are provided?
The Foundation pays utility providers directly to prevent shutoffs and reduce past-due balances for electricity, gas, and water. Payment amounts are determined through partner agency intake and verified billing documentation. The Foundation also coordinates referrals to LIHEAP and utility company hardship programs.
When does this initiative operate?
The Holiday Support Fund is active from November through January each year, covering the full holiday stretch and post-holiday period. Planning and fundraising begin in early fall to ensure resources are available when seasonal financial pressure peaks.
Is assistance guaranteed?
No. This is a charitable initiative, not an entitlement program. Assistance is based on verified need, partner agency capacity, and available funding. The Foundation exercises full discretion over all allocation and distribution decisions.
How are donations used?
Every dollar donated to the Holiday Support Fund is administered by the Foundation with full discretion and used to pay utility providers directly, purchase essential household supplies from approved vendors, or fund partner agency stabilization services. The Foundation does not distribute cash to individuals. Supporters can view allocation data through our transparency page.
Program family Together with other work under Housing Stability & Eviction Prevention.
Active in your community
Where this program is making a difference
Moreno Valley, CAMoreno Valley Housing StabilityPreventing displacement in fast-growing communities where families are at risk.Learn more →
Riverside, CARiverside Housing StabilityKeeping Riverside families housed through verified, vendor-paid stabilization.Learn more →
Perris, CAPerris Housing StabilityStabilizing housing for families in one of southern Riverside County’s fastest-growing communities.Learn more →
Initiatives under this program
Seasonal and specialized work
Seasonal initiativeWinter Warmth DriveCoats, blankets, and winter essentials for families and individuals facing the cold without adequate protection.Learn more →
Specialized programJob Loss Bridge SupportShort-term stabilization so families can focus on getting back on their feet — essentials through verified partners, never cash.Learn more →
Specialized programDomestic Violence Safe Exit FundSafe exit resources through verified shelter partners — protecting dignity and creating pathways to safety.Learn more →
Looking for help?
If you or someone you know is facing a need that Holiday Support Fund addresses, our team can walk you through the intake process. Every request is reviewed with care.
Charitable disclosure
Acts of Kindness Foundation is a California public benefit foundation (nonprofit public benefit corporation). This program is administered as charitable assistance. Program and campaign descriptions communicate mission intent and public context, not donor-directed control over distributions. The Foundation retains full discretion over the use and distribution of funds, which may support charitable assistance, program delivery, verification, reporting, and related operations.
Acts of Kindness Foundation administers all funds for the Holiday Support Fund with full discretion over allocation and distribution. Utility payments are made directly to providers. Household supplies are purchased from approved vendors and distributed through verified partner agencies. No cash is distributed to individuals or families. Assistance is subject to program capacity, partner availability, and verified need — this initiative does not constitute an entitlement or guarantee of service. All vendor payments, utility disbursements, partner records, and case documentation are maintained and reported through the Foundation’s transparency page.
All gifts on this site are made to Acts of Kindness Foundation and remain subject to the Foundation's exclusive control and discretion.
Review the next step
Explore more programs, review transparency, or contact the Foundation if you have questions about how support is administered.