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Do you know a child in need? Or will your own child possibly go without toys this Christmas? An unprecedented communitywide effort is under way to help.

Flagler Christmas Angels is a collaborative effort of more than 20 organizations, including churches and other agencies, to provide assistance during the holiday season. The goal is to collect into one database the names of all children in need and to provide to provide each one with Christmas gifts, toys and/or clothes and not to duplicate services.

“It’s really amazing to see the partners come together and provide for the whole county,” said Dorothy Sperber, Flagler County Toys for Tots coordinator. "This really doesn’t happen in other counties.”

Flagler Christmas Angels will hold registration for Flagler County families beginning Oct. 4. The project is open to all Flagler children in need, birth to 17. Registrations will be held at various sites throughout Flagler County. Although most registrations are at school sites, children do not need to attend those schools to be registered on that date. The locations were chosen for their central location, said Katrina Townsend, coordinator for Christmas Angels and director of student services for Flagler County Public Schools.

Although Flagler Schools is a major partner, Townsend noted that with so many organizations involved, Christmas Angels is really a community project.

“I think one of the things that I am seeing as we continue to take in partners is that Flagler is a very generous community,” Townsend said. “The more partners that will give us their names or take children from the list it really makes the resources go a lot further.”

Roseanne Stocker, chairperson for Flagler Rotary Club’s Project Share, said that the database is not only important to make sure all children are provided for, but also to bring comfort to donors.

"It’s important that the donors who give at Christmas can feel confident that they are really giving to someone in need rather than a family that is not already being provided for — that their donations are going to the best possible use," she said. "Especially in this economy when a lot of times the donors are in need themselves, but they have a giving spirit.”

For more information or to become a partner/provider, contact Townsend at 437-7526, Ext. 2300, or TownsendK@flaglerschools.com.
 

Registration Days and Sites

4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct.4                Carver Community Center
4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9                            Rymfire Elementary School
4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11                        Old Kings Elementary School
5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15                           Bunnell Elementary School
4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16                         Government Services Building
5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18                        Belle Terre Elementary School
4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29                Wadsworth Elementary School

Bring a photo ID and proof of address. Must be a Flagler County resident.

Community Partners

Flagler County Public Schools, Flagler County Education Foundation, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Junior Medical Reserve Corp, Eagle’s Nest Storage, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Light House Bible Church, Hammock Dunes Club, Anchor Boat Club, Belk, city of Palm Coast, Christmas Come True, Palm Coast Evangel Church, Parkview Baptist Church, Flagler Rotary Clubs: Project Share, Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates, Flagler Beach Yacht Club, Austin Outdoor, Florida Oral and Facial Surgical Associates: Operation Changing Lives, Fabulous Females, Family Life Center, Santa Maria del Mar Church, Palm Coast Women’s Club, Grace Community Ministries, Shop with a Deputy, DSC Culinary Club and a host of private individuals.
 

 

 

 

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