The Salvation Army started the Angel Tree program as a way to fulfill simple wishes for children in Northern Kentucky. Dennie and Judy Carter, Florence residents, are the arms and legs behind the operation. For more than eight years, the couple has volunteered for The Salvation Army’s Florence service unit to provide holiday wishes to thousands of students whose families are experiencing hardships.
“We’ve always been in the right place at the right time,” said Judy Carter. “We found people who were in need and called on the generosity of our community to give them the simple blessing of a gift for Christmas.”
The Salvation Army works with resource managers in Boone County schools to help identify families seeking Christmas assistance in the form of new toys, clothes and food for their children. The requests are written on angels and given away as tags for the community to fulfill.
In 2016, volunteers collected more than 1,500 gifts thanks to generous supporters in the community, including friends, family and local businesses. They were even able to help local ministries with the extra donations collected.
Nikole Carter, Dennie and Judy’s daughter-in-law, works at St. Elizabeth Physicians, which granted the wishes of more than 125 local children this year. “My co-workers have always been community-focused,” said Nikole. “I knew the needs were overwhelming in the community, so I approached my manager to get involved and it became a tradition to donate every year. We just finished our third Christmas.”
The support they’ve received is heartwarming, said Dennie. “I want to praise the associates at St. Elizabeth and our entire community. They didn’t just buy one gift – they bought them all.”
After fulfilling needs up through Christmas Eve and spending hours sorting clothes and toys in their living room, Dennie and Judy are ready for 2017 and expect it to be the best one yet. “It’s the hearts of our supporters who have really led the program forward,” said Dennie.
To find out how to be a part of the program call The Salvation Army’s service unit field representative Elizabeth Bolin at (513) 568-3384.