Onslow County DSS, volunteers plan Be the Light foster-child party and Angel Tree donation drive

Frances Moore Navarre of Onslow County Department of Social Services described two community-supported holiday efforts for children in foster care: an annual Be the Light holiday party and the long-running Angel Tree donation program.

Navarre said the Be the Light party is held for foster children in Onslow County and will be off-site this year on Dec. 5; community partners provide a hall at no cost. Be the Light posts an Amazon wish list on Nov. 1 with a 72-hour push for donations and asks for a goal of five gifts per child who attends; in the prior year organizers raised about 1,100 gifts. For older youth (ages 18'21) the program requests gift cards or practical items rather than toys.

The Angel Tree program lists the top five gifts each foster child requests; volunteers choose an angel tag, buy the requested items and bring unwrapped donations to the consolidated human services (CHS) building. Navarre said trees will go up in early November at locations including Zing Zoom and some bank branches, and requested that donated items be delivered to the CHS building at 612 College Street in Jacksonville by Dec. 5.

Navarre said the programs aim to ensure foster children and young adults feel cared for during the holidays and thanked community partners and individuals for ongoing support. For more information she directed donors to the county website and the Onslow County Be the Light 2025 Facebook page.