Christmas is Coming to ECCAC—
It’s Adopt-A-Family Time!
ECCAC is seeking donors who will purchase new and unwrapped gifts for individual families for Christmas. Gift certificates are great for teens and Christmas decorations are always a bonus if funds allow. Last year, the program helped 197 children in 70 families have a festive holiday season. You can sign up now for Adopt-a-Family on-line at www.eccac.org/adoptafamily. Or, contact Nicole Steinbrink at nicole@eccac.org, or call her at 850-833-9237, Ext. 222 to make arrangements. Then shop for the families and bring unwrapped gifts by December 14th, or sooner to the Niceville or DeFuniak Springs Centers. You can also consider making a 2021 year-end tax-deductible donation. ECCAC’s mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect, protect children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and restore the lives and futures of these impacted children. Visit www.eccac.org. If abuse is suspected, call the anonymous Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.
Angel Tree Christmas Gift Assistance Program
Together, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities help hundreds of families in our community each year provide gifts to thousands of children on Christmas morning through the Angel Tree Christmas assistance program. Local families in need can register their children for Angel Tree by registering at www.SAAngelTree.org or through the Salvation Army’s Facebook page by Oct. 29. Designed for children up to age 12, availability is on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis. Once the organizations reach a certain number of children registration will be closed.
After registration, angels (a child) can be adopted by community members and donors who then provide Christmas gifts and clothing for the child. The Salvation Army is seeking corporations that would like to host an Angel Tree at their workplace. Please call (850) 243 4531 ext. 14.
Freeport Christmas Angels
Freeport Christmas Angels, Inc. will be opening its Christmas ‘store’ on Sat., Dec. 17 and Sun., Dec. 18, location TBD, for families in need to come in and pick out toys for their children to open on Christmas Day. Last year, Freeport Christmas Angels provided Christmas gifts for more than 100 children who were 6 months to 17 years of age from 34 families. The organization collects toys and also raises funds to purchase toys and is collecting gifts now. There is an application process. Visit the Facebook page to apply. You can help by donating purchased gifts for children ages 0 to 17 or money to our Facebook fundraiser: Facebook.com/FreeportChristmasAngels.
“Geek Lights” Announces Charity selection for 2021 Season
The Geek Lights on the Corner Christmas lights and music show has selected Crisis Aid for Littles and Moms, or CALM, as the charity that will receive collected donations for the upcoming holiday season. “This will be our second season sponsoring CALM,” said Jeff Werner, who puts the “Geek” in Geek Lights on the Corner. “We forged a great relationship with the staff at CALM last year, and our visitors responded so positively to them as our chosen charity. We set a record for donations last year, and we’re really hoping people will step up again to help. The Geek Lights crew really believes in CALM’s mission.” Behind-the-scenes preparations for this year’s show – which is Season 14 – have been underway since the show shut down in January. The primary outdoor assembly commences in November, and there will be three Community Build Days for anyone who wants to help. Watch the show’s page at FaceBook.com/GeekLightsOnTheCorner for detailed information and to sign-up to help.
