Holiday Angels (formerly known as Christmas Clearinghouse) is a collaborative effort of human service agencies, businesses, civic groups and individuals in Jefferson County, working together to ensure that children of low-income families have gifts for Christmas. Families in need may apply for Holiday Angels at the location within their home community (sites listed below). Dates and times at which applications are accepted vary by site. Click here for details. All sites offer a gift for each child in the family (up to age 16); some sites offer assistance with holiday meals.
- Salvation Army, Watertown
- Rohde Center, Adams
- Antwerp Town Hall, Antwerp
- VEM Food Pantry, Carthage
- Presbyterian Church, Chaumont
- Clayton, Alexandria Bay, Thousand Islands Region: Applications accepted by phone.
- Indian River Baptist Church, Philadelphia
- A New Life Church, Depauville
- Dexter Presbyterian Church, Dexter
Families are encouraged to apply early. The child’s first name, along with gender, age, and Christmas wish, are placed on the “Angel Tree” at the Salmon Run Mall. No other identifying information is included. Community members select an Angel, purchase the gift, and return the Angel and unwrapped gift to the Angel Tree. Community Action Planning Council sorts the gifts which are later picked up by partnering agencies for distribution.
Community Action Planning Council coordinates the Holiday Angels program in partnership with a number of community organizations and businesses, including Bernier Carr Group, Catholic Charities, Jaycees, Kiwanis, local food pantries, Salmon Run Mall, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Tunes 92.5 FM and Watertown Urban Mission. Thanks to the generosity of the local community, 2,337 children in Jefferson County received gifts through this project last year. For more information about Holiday Angels, call 315.782.4900, extension 271.