ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C -- Onslow County Department of Social Services is asking for the community to help make sure that every child that is separated from his or her family due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, is able to enjoy this Christmas holiday.

  • There are more than 245 children in foster care in Onslow County
  • DSS Angel Tree makes sure all those children have a gift to open on Christmas morning
  • A social worker started the program 12 years ago

There are more than 245 children in foster care in the county, and a social worker started the DSS Angel Tree program 12 years ago to make sure each and every one of the children has a gift to open.

"It’s really important for children in foster care to receive a gift, to see they have a gift under the tree Christmas morning or Christmas  Eve....Children who come into foster care experience traumatized situations, and sometimes they feel they do not have anything for their own,” said Carolyn Dunlap, the social work supervisor for Onslow County DSS.

Eight locations have a DSS Angel Tree set up around the county, with children’s names and wish lists. Simply pick a name, get the gifts you choose, and turn them into the Onslow County DSS Building, located at 612 College Street in Jacksonville by December 12.  You don’t need to wrap them.

Angel Trees are at the following locations: Planet Fitness, Courts Plus, Moore Buick, Port City Community Church-Jacksonville, Jacksonville Mall, Jacksonville Library, Swansboro Library, and Onslow County Government Center.