Jones College’s “Christmas with the Arts” & Salvation Army Toy Drive brings more smiles

ELLISVILLE –Jones College’s Christmas with the Arts and Salvation Army Toy Drive has been bringing “more smiles” to children over the last 12 years thanks to the generous support of the community. This year, the toy donations were in addition to the price of a ticket to see the annual Jones College Christmas program featuring the Concert Choir, Jones OnStage, JC Jazz Band, Touch of Gold and a lady’s quartet.

“We appreciate Jones College, faculty and students and the community members who donate toys because we get to see more smiles as we distribute these toys. Without people assisting the Angel Tree program with their new toy donations, we would not be able to serve 183 families which includes 465 children,” explained Valeria Glover, Salvation Army’s Program Coordinator.

Jones College students, pictured left to right, Elisa Cook-Meridian; Dasia Newell-Laurel; Hailey Thurman-Magee; and Trinity Ratliff-Laurel pose with Salvation Army Program Coordinator, Valeria Glover and Social Services representative, Hilda Sargent along with JC student Elliot Sholtz of Gulfport, who are holding a few of the hundreds of toys donated by patrons of  Jones College’s Christmas with the Arts-Because of Bethlehem program.

The new unwrapped toys will be distributed on Monday, December 23, to the families who signed up for the program, who have children needing a little Christmas joy. Hopefully, the remaining “‘Angels Tree” names still hanging on the tree in the mall in Laurel will be adopted soon.

“We are so thankful for what the college and community do to help every year with this program. We love doing the ‘most good’ for the community, which serves as a blessing to so many people because of the generosity of others,” said Hilda Sargent, Salvation Army Social Services.

Necessities and Christmas gifts are provided for disadvantaged children from infants to age 12, through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in Jones, Jasper, Wayne, Clarke, Smith and Simpson counties. For more information about the Angel Tree project, go to https://salvationarmyalm.org/

For more information, call the Jones College of Art, Music and Performance Office at 601-477-4203 or follow Jones College Art, Music and Performance Facebook Page and “X” or Twitter.