By Christopher Manson
Good news! There are plenty of opportunities to be a Holiday Hero this season by donating, volunteering or simply spreading the good word about our local nonprofits. Here are just a few ways you can make the holidays a lot brighter for those in need.
The Okaloosa County School District and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office join forces for this year’s Angel Tree Program which assists students requiring support during the holidays. Community members are encouraged to sponsor students and purchase gifts from “wish lists.” Sponsor an “angel” or make a monetary donation at ocsostarcharity.com.
One Hopeful Place provides shelter and “hope” for those in dire need—single men, women and veterans with no shelter, medical supplies, transportation or basic necessities, Community support creates a significant ripple effect on the lives of the homeless. Donations to One Hopeful Place do more than provide shelter and meals, they instill hope and open doors to new beginnings. Even a small monthly pledge can make a significant impact. Visit onehopefulplace.org or call 850.586.7879.
The Salvation Army has partnered with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida to provide gifts such as new clothes and toys to children that live in Okaloosa and Walton Counties through its Angel Tree program. Items can be dropped off at the Salvation Army’s Thrift Store, 425 Mary Esther Cutoff in Mary Esther. If you or your business would like to adopt some “Angels” or put up a tree at your location and be a drop off location, contact Laura.Beeman@uss.salvationarmy.org. You can also volunteer to distribute gifts and holiday meals to those in need. Call 850.243.4531 for more information.
Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s Christmas Toy Drive has begun! Bring joy to area kiddos and help ECCAC stock its toy room for its families and agency partners to “shop”! Choose from ECCAC’s wish list at eccac.org. Every contribution makes a difference in ending abuse and restoring childhood one child at a time. Contact Hailey (Hailey@eccac.org) to schedule your drop-off.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, the Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson Owners Group #3605 hosts its 45th annual Toys for Tots Ride at Niceville’s Mullet Festival Grounds. The event brings in a considerable number of toys and gift cards for ECCAC’s kids and Children in Crisis. Ride registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson, 788 Beal Pkwy. N.W. in Fort Walton Beach. Bikes, Jeeps, Corvettes, sports bikes and cruisers are invited to join. Bring $10 per person – along with a new toy or gift card donation – and ride over to the Mullet Festival Grounds. The fun begins at 11 a.m., with games, a “best decorated bike/auto” contest, car and truck show, 50/50 drawing, entertainment from DJ Anthony, food trucks, and over 100 prizes.
Each fall, Crop Drop volunteers gather more than 110,000 pounds of produce to be distributed to food pantries, homeless shelters and churches throughout the Panhandle, feeding 6,000 families. This year’s event starts at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, at Destin Methodist Church. Business and individual sponsors can email cropdropdestin@gmail.com or call 850.586.0585. To volunteer, visit cropdrop.net.
A Bed 4 Me, providing beds for children in Okaloosa and Walton counties since 2016, provides a full bedding kit at no cost to local children and families in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. You can volunteer to help with bed delivery assistance, fundraising event support or to host bedding drives. To volunteer, email diane@abed4me.org or send a message at abed4me.org. A Bed 4 Me also accepts in-kind donations; a wish list is posted on the website and you can always donate new, standard size sleeping pillows, Amazon and Walmart gift cards.
You can help Opportunity Place in Fort Walton Beach provide shelter and support for those experiencing homelessness by donating funds for basic needs such as blankets, a shower or electricity. Find a wish list at opifwb.org/donations. You can also join the Meal Donor Program by calling 850-533-7671 or emailing balon@opifwb.org. Or, for a $75 donation, a delicious meal will be delivered on your behalf by Golden Corral, spreading warmth and kindness to those in need. Visit opifwb.org/donations.
You can contribute to Northwest Florida Military Officer’s Association’s (NWFMOA) mission to purchase gift cards at the base commissary for young, enlisted families in grades E-4 and below to purchase food. NWFMOA partners with the Eglin and Hurlburt First Sergeant Councils, the 7th Special forces Group and the Military Family Readiness Centers at Hurlburt and Duke Field to distribute to their neediest enlisted families. Visit www.nwfmoa.org/outreach.html to donate.
