Have you ever bought gifts for a charity Christmas tree at the office? Maybe you’ve purchased a meal donation at the grocery store around Thanksgiving? Or perhaps you’ve dropped some change into one of those ubiquitous red kettles that serve as an annual reminder that yes, Enid, there is a Salvation Army.
When Enid folks purchase gifts, a meal, or donate change, they are contributing to just a few of the over 300 registered charities here in Garfield County. Enid may not have the large population of OKC or Tulsa, but one thing is certain: Enid has a huge wellspring of community generosity. In the spirit of the holidays, here are a few of the wonderful organizations that work tirelessly to brighten the season for local residents.
You know the Salvation Army by sight, when every year, bell ringers take to store entrances and the shiny red kettles beckon for change. But did you know that the Salvation Army also runs two other holiday programs, Spruce Up a Life and Angel Tree? The former “provides fully decorated trees and gifts delivered by our partner UPS,” and the latter works with businesses such as “Walmart, Atwood’s, Stride Bank, and Evan’s Drugs” to host wish list trees to provides gifts for children in need, according to Salvation Army Captain Amanda Brittle. She reported that “Last year, we were able to provide gifts for 615 kids, plus 50 Spruce Up a Life families.” What is even more amazing is the longevity of these programs: this will be the 35th season that Spruce Up a Life has operated in Enid, and Brittle says that Angel Tree has been going at least that long (the exact start date is unknown).
One program that you may not be familiar with is Christmas 911, which brings together area first responders to take children shopping for Christmas presents. The event “includes the fire department, the rural fire departments…Life EMS usually comes out, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, and of course our officers like to participate as well,” said Cass Rains, public information officer for the Enid Police Department. Rains said that usually “50 to 60 first responders” participate. With support from public donations, departmental donations, and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 144, they can usually help about 40 children per year. The children meet at First Assembly of God Church and head to Walmart in groups with the first responders. Then they head back to the church, where Rains said, “They get to meet Santa Claus, there’s coffee for the parents, cookies for the kids and cocoa, and it’s just kind of a good morning!”
Enid PD also works with the Department of Health & Human Services every year, hosting an Angel Tree in the building lobby. “It’s for children that are in foster care in the area,” according to Rains, and while many are “taken care of by those in the building,” the public is always welcome to stop by and pitch in. Overall, Rains wants readers to know that the department is just “happy to give back to a community that supports us so much and supports first responders.”
Another holiday event that officers look forward to is not exactly written in stone, but it does seem to happen with some regularity. For over a decade, the generosity of an anonymous benefactor has made it possible for officers to distribute cash gifts to random Enid folks. Recounting one memorable distribution, Rains said, “Typically, we drive out to the grocery store parking lots and try and catch people on their way in…. we had some good luck where we stopped a family one time, and the gentleman told us that he was going in to buy his holiday meal and was really concerned. That donation from that person allowed him to have a decent holiday meal, which we were super happy to hear.” Like Maryland’s famous “Poe Toaster,” the identity of Enid’s anonymous benefactor is unknown to all but a select few (even Rains is kept in the dark), but one thing is for sure: this “little mystery” has definitely helped brighten the holidays for countless Enid residents.
Tucked away in a nondescript plaza off of Main Street, Catholic Charities is another local partner in the fight against want. They provide a range of services, chiefly focusing on emergency assistance, case management, and family health. But it is their annual “A Very Giving Christmas” drive that brings the sparkle to the eyes of local children. Together with Toys for Tots and Salvation Army, Catholic Charities has been bringing Christmas to area youths for 22 years (the three organizations form Enid’s “Christmas Coalition”). Aside from expensive items like iPads and gaming devices, everyone tries very hard to fulfill children’s wish lists. Director Stacy Kurtz said, “We’re really, really good at shopping!” Purchasing goes on year-round, with staff taking advantage of sales to get the most bang for donors’ bucks. In 2023, 78 children were helped, with each child receiving “a new outfit, shoes, and three toys/gifts,” according to Kurtz. A unique aspect to their program is that recipients are invited to perform one hour of volunteer service for each child served in a given family. Kurtz said, “We’ve had people come in and say, ‘You know, I volunteered at Our Daily Bread, and I love it and am going to stay as a volunteer….so not only are they working for it, they are giving back to the community…and getting invested, hopefully, in service.”
Another special organization that uses the giving trees approach is Youth and Family Services (YFS). Like all the featured groups, YFS serves the Enid community far beyond Christmas, including operating an emergency youth shelter and providing counseling services for at-risk children and families. During the holidays, they mobilize their annual “Project Santa”, and in 2023, they were able to help “just a little over 500 kids,” according to Board Member Amy Clements. Working with a long list of community partners, YFS distributes trees around town, with Vance AFB having “become a huge supporter over the years,” said Clements. In fact, in 2023, donations from Vance provided for over 300 children.
Although much holiday giving focuses on children, Enid’s senior citizens are not forgotten. Those in their golden years make up a sizable part of the community, with residents over 65 numbering just over 7,500. Unfortunately, the reality is that many senior citizens “are limited financially, physically, and by lack of transportation access,” which is also known as the “Senior Trifecta,” according to the website for RSVP Enid. RSVP has been working in Enid for 46 years, helping to make life better for local seniors. They offer Mobile Meals for the homebound, and they also offer socializing at the Enid Senior Center. During the holidays, operation Santa for Seniors swings into action. “It takes a village to help a senior remain independent [and] Christmas time is no different,” said Executive Director Christy Baker. Working with businesses and “elementary schools, civic clubs, churches, and youth groups,” RSVP collects not only gifts but basic necessities for seniors. In contrast to children’s lists, the seniors’ requests are usually very sobering, often including things like socks, Kleenex, and Dawn dish soap. Thanks to everyone working together, Baker said that RSVP volunteers “deliver the spirit of the season to the doorsteps of more than 600 seniors during the holiday season.”
One of the most remarkable parts of this story was discovering how smoothly different organizations in Enid work with each other. As Stacy Kurtz said, “The nonprofits work together really well—not just at Christmas, but in everything.” The Christmas Coalition groups collaborate among themselves to prevent duplication of services, and in addition, the organizations participate in the United Way Charity Tracker Program. Since names are cross-checked, this ensures that everyone’s resources go as far as possible. Amanda Brittle said, “When you participate in the Angel Tree Program, [you] are truly helping a family in need…we are being good stewards of their donations.” Kurtz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing for the Enid community that “We do check that their dollars are well spent.”
Although most of these efforts start well in advance of December, there is still time for the community to pitch in. Readers may stop by the Enid Police Department and check out any remaining tags on the Angel Tree. The Salvation Army invites people to visit Oakwood Mall, where they also have an Angel Tree. Brittle said, “Donors can come and pick out angels, as well as drop off gifts.” The Salvation Army will gratefully accept gift donations until Tuesday, December 17. Of course, the red kettles will be out until Christmas Eve.
And on Monday, December 9, Youth and Family Services will be hosting an open house at their offices at 605 W. Oxford. From 4:00 – 6:00 PM, YFS invites the public to the join in celebrating their annual “Nights of Shelter” fundraiser, which runs November through January. “People are welcome to come and tour the shelter and the office…and kind of really understand where your money’s going,” said board member Amy Clements.
The holiday charity efforts that have been profiled are successful because of a powerful combination of factors: the organizations themselves, the countless volunteers who help, donors of both financial and tangible gifts, and counselors who make referrals to the programs. All of it requires substantial resources and time, and it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Even so, there are plenty of moments that pierce the operational machinery and bring a tear to one’s eye. Brittle said, “My heart does break when I see requests for beds for kids.” The staff at RSVP said that they regularly see requests for “Socks [or other small items] for my wife. I don’t need anything.” And YFS Executive Director Hannah Fryer reminds the community that “Lots of our kids that we’re serving through Project Santa are kids who have experienced some level of trauma.” Such moments serve as stark reminders of the reality of everyday challenges, which extend well beyond the holiday season.
All of the featured organizations offer a tremendous amount of services to Enid residents, all year long. Many others in Enid have a strong, abiding presence, too: from Enid Street Outreach Services to Loaves & Fishes, to YWCA and the ministries of HOPE Outreach, there is a helping hand for those in need. Unfortunately, there are more who need it than one might initially realize; Garfield County’s poverty rate of 15.6% is similar to that of Oklahoma County, home to OKC, which has a poverty rate of 16%. On a positive note, though, all of the aforementioned groups are quietly helping people to transform their lives and make a better future for themselves and by extension, for Enid as a whole. And while the goals of the Angel Trees, anonymous cash gifts, Very Giving Christmas, and Santa for Senior programs are spreading holiday cheer and making children happy—not, strictly speaking, combatting poverty—the fact remains that they are indeed performing an invaluable public service by providing that most vital resource, without which there is no future: hope.
