Angel Tree: Salvation Army collecting toys for needy kids in Okaloosa and Walton counties

Sharon Dooley | sklscoops@cox.net
·2 min read

FORT WALTON BEACH — It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, with images of the holidays seen throughout the community. Among those images are the iconic Angel Trees.

“Angel Tree, it comes out of our social services,” said Salvation Army Lt. James Milner, who serves as corps officer with his wife, Lt. Abby Milner.

The couple and their staff work with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida to provide Christmas toys to children whose families face financial distress.

Area families register with the two organizations, with their children’s ages and needs placed on angel ornaments. Individuals, families and organizations can adopt angels and provide holiday gifts for the children.

A military group assisted the Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton Counties and Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida during the 2020 Angel Tree drive. The two organizations accept donations of toys, which are distributed to families who registered for this community outreach program. Flanking the volunteers on the left is Salvation Army Lt. Abby Milner and on the right Catholic Charities representative Eva Wise.

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From last year: Toy Shop program brings Christmas cheer to area children

This year, there is a small change in the Angel Tree distribution.

“This year we are not doing a toy shop,” Abby Milner said.

A few years ago, the distribution had been designed to give parents and guardians a shopping experience. For 2021, the program is returning to the traditional Salvation Army Angel Tree, which provides a little more than toys.

“We’re taking specific information about the children,” she said. “The tags will have sizes.

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“We’re asking that donors buy a toy and an outfit for the child they adopt,” Milner added. “We know the community is generous.”

The return to tradition creates a community outreach activity for donating families, James Milner said.

“It’s great for the community to do; it’s a great family event,” he said. “They can look at the angels and identify for that child.

“They can go and shop for this child as if it’s their own child, so that Christmas morning is a great morning for every child in this community,” he added.

In addition to the donations, volunteers are needed to help organize and distribute Angel Tree packages. Individuals, church or professional organizations, civic groups, and even teens who need community service hours may volunteer. Information can be found at the Salvation Army’s website: www.salvationarmyflorida.org/fortwalton.

Angel Trees are located at every Walmart in Okaloosa and Walton counties, at Sam’s Club, Second Breath Styles, EDC Guns, Starbucks in Destin, at the Silver Sands Premium Outlets and in both the Salvation Army’s thrift store and social services office.

Toy donations are accepted until Dec. 13.

The Salvation Army offices are at 425 Mary Esther Cut-Off in Fort Walton Beach. Catholic Charities is at 11 First St. S.E. in Fort Walton Beach.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Angel Tree campaign: Salvation Army collects toys in Okaloosa, Walton