Santa's Helpers

Christmas Around the World
Join AAA and bring the kids for a fun-filled day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at Baytowne Wharf of Sandestin. Help those who are less fortunate.
Activities include ice skating, pictures with Santa, hot chocolate and cookies, music and more. Also, create gifts with Home Depot and Build a Bear and the police department will have ID kits for children.
Admission is $7, which goes to provide gifts for military overseas, plus a donation to one of the following: PAWS, dog food; Children in Crisis, old coats for children; Sharing and Caring, canned food; and Toys For Tots, toys.

Coats for Kids at Christmas
The United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties, in partnership with A & A Transfer & Storage, and Bangkok Cleaners, will hold the annual Coats for Kids at Christmas Drive to help needy children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
Drop off used coats (good condition) or new coats through Dec. 5 at the following locations: Bank of America, BankTrust, BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank), BBVA Compass Bank, Beach Community Bank, Belk at Santa Rosa Mall, Century Link (formerly Embarq), Coastal Bank and Trust, Covenant Hospice, Eglin Chapel, Eglin Federal Credit Union, First City Bank, Okaloosa District Office, Premier Community Bank, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Trustmark Bank, Twin Cities Hospital and Whitney National Bank.
Bangkok Cleaners in Fort Walton Beach will clean coats and United Way Agencies will distribute the coats to any child at no cost to the family.
Call 243-0315.

Generous Heart Toy Drive
Generous Heart/Passion 1:27 Ministry in Destin will collect toys to give to some of the more than 400 foster children in Okaloosa County during the Christmas season. Toys for all age children may be dropped off at Grace Luthran Church, 4325 Commons Drive or mail checks to Generous Heart Ministry, PO Box 5316, Destin FL 32540. Deadline is Dec. 20.
Eagle's Wings Book & Gifts, 14071 F, Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin is also accepting toy donations.

Harvest House Food Drive
Mission Love Seeds in Destin is collecting food for Harvest House for the holiday season.
Complete list of foods needs are available at drop off locations and at www.harvesthosannadestin.org/harvesthouse/.
Boxes with posters and shopping lists will be located throughout the community at businesses and churches. Some of the drop-off locations are Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave., Destin Log, 1225 Airport Road, Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, First Presbyterian Church, 154 Calhoun Ave., Grace Lutheran Church, 4325 W Commons Drive, Winn-Dixie stores and Ace Hardware locations. Complete list available at Missionloveseeds.org.

Toys For Tots at dressbarn
For the second year, dressbarn, at Silver Sands Factory Mall, will hold its Toys For Tots Drive through Dec. 15. Donate new, unwrapped toy and receive 15 percent off purchase of a regular-priced item. All of the toys collected will be given to children in the community.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program objectives are to help less fortunate children throughout the country experience the joy of Christmas, to play an active role in the development of children, to unite all members of local communities, and to contribute to better communities in the future.

Holiday Food Drive for Sharing and Caring
Quality Imports' family of dealerships invites the public to bring canned foods and dry goods to any one of their locations through Dec. 23. Collection boxes will be at Quality Toyota, BMW, Scion, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and at the Value Buy Center. These donations will be collected on behalf of Sharing and Caring of Fort Walton Beach to provide food for families throughout the holidays.
Persons wishing to donate food are encouraged to bring canned beef stew, cereal, pork and beans, canned fruit, carrots, canned meats, peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese dinners, rice, beans, fruit juice, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, powdered milk and tuna fish. Cash and grocery gift-card contributions are also most appreciated.