Operation Jingle Bells replaces Angel Tree as Okaloosa County prepares annual holiday giving campaign
Okaloosa County, Florida – A longtime Okaloosa County holiday tradition is returning this year with a different name, but families who have relied on the program will find its purpose unchanged. What residents once knew as Angel Tree will now operate as Operation Jingle Bells.
Behind the new name is the same community effort: connecting students and families facing financial challenges with people willing to make their holiday season a little brighter.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Okaloosa County School District are again partnering to organize the annual program. School counselors and school resource officers will work together to identify students who may need additional support during the holidays.
Once students are identified, organizers create holiday wish lists based on their needs and requests. Those lists are then shared with community members interested in helping, giving local residents, businesses and organizations an opportunity to provide gifts for children and families across Okaloosa County.
Operation Jingle Bells is expected to officially launch for the upcoming holiday season in October. Additional details will be released at that time explaining how businesses, organizations and individual residents can participate.
Although the program is receiving a new identity, organizers emphasized that its central mission remains the same. The partnership is designed to bring the community together around students who might otherwise face a difficult holiday season because of financial circumstances at home.
The program also continues a cooperative approach between schools and law enforcement. Counselors who work directly with students help identify families who could benefit, while school resource officers take part in coordinating the effort alongside the school district.
Residents interested in following updates about Operation Jingle Bells can find additional information through the program’s Facebook post.
Questions about participation can also be directed to Catherine Card with the Okaloosa County School District at [email protected] or Katie Tingle with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office at [email protected].
With the October launch approaching, Operation Jingle Bells will give Okaloosa County residents another opportunity to turn individual donations into a wider community effort — and help ensure local students have something to celebrate when the holidays arrive.
