GULF SHORES, Ala. — Families in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan who need help providing Christmas gifts for their children this year can begin signing up next month. The Christian Service Center will register families for its Christmas Cheer for Children’s Program starting Oct. 13.
Registration runs through Dec. 10, with in-person sign-up sessions held on specific afternoons in October at the center in Gulf Shores.
Registration details
- Program: Christmas Cheer for Children’s Program
- Registration period: Oct. 13 through Dec. 10, 2026
- In-person sessions: 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29
- Location: Christian Service Center, 317 Dolphin Ave., Gulf Shores
- Who qualifies: Families living in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan who need help with Christmas toys for their children or custodial grandchildren, from newborns through high school
- Also available: Registration for a Christmas Dinner box
Who is eligible
The program serves families who need assistance during the holiday season with Christmas toys for their children, or for grandchildren in their custody, from newborn through high school age. Families must live in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan to be eligible.
Families who register for toys may also sign up at the same time to receive a Christmas Dinner box.
Families planning to register may want to contact the Christian Service Center ahead of time to ask what documents to bring, such as proof of residence and information about the children in the household.
How the angel trees work
Once families register, their children’s toy requests are shared with the community in the form of paper angels. The angels are hung on Christmas trees displayed by churches, businesses, restaurants and other organizations around the area.
Community members choose an angel from a tree, purchase the gifts listed and return them so they can be distributed to the family. The system allows donors to shop for a specific child while protecting the family’s privacy.
Last year’s impact
Thanks to the generosity of angel donors, the 2025 Christmas Cheer for Children’s Program provided Christmas gifts to 758 children in 258 families.
About the Christian Service Center
The Christian Service Center is an all-volunteer agency serving low-income families living in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. In addition to its Christmas program, the center provides food and emergency financial aid, including help with rent and utilities. Volunteers also refer clients to other agencies and resources based on their needs.
Because the center is run entirely by volunteers, donations of money, food and time go directly toward helping families in the community.
Why help matters on the coast
Alabama’s beach communities are known for tourism, but many of the people who keep the area running, from restaurant and hotel workers to retail and service employees, work in seasonal jobs where hours and pay can drop in the fall and winter. For some families, the holiday season arrives just as income tightens, making programs like Christmas Cheer an important source of support.
How to help
Residents who want to support the program can look for angel trees at participating churches, businesses, restaurants and organizations once the holiday season begins, and choose an angel to sponsor. Businesses and groups interested in hosting a tree, and individuals who want to volunteer or donate to the center’s year-round food and emergency assistance programs, can contact the Christian Service Center in Gulf Shores.
Families in need should mark their calendars for the in-person registration sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29 at 317 Dolphin Ave. in Gulf Shores.