MIDDLEBURG – Christmas will be here quicker than anyone knows it, so that doesn’t give the Salvation Army of Clay County a lot of time to get ready for its holiday programs to support needy families in the county.

Along with the Orange Park Mall, the Salvation Army will kick off its Red Kettle Bell program on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Orange Park Mall. At the same time, the organization will unveil its largest Angel Tree which will be loaded with paper ornaments with requests from children.

For some, it’s probably the only present they’ll get this year.

This will be the first holiday in Clay County for Capts. Mike and Julie Chamberlain. They said the program varies in each county, but they’ve been eager to reach out to make sure every child has something under the tree and every family enjoys the simple bounties many take for granted.

“In some places, we put up our trees in big stores,” Julie said. “You can’t do that here. We’re working to put them where we can. Our biggest will be at the Orange Park Mall. They allowed us to get the Red Kettle Drive going there, too.”

The Salvation Army will share with the mall as it offers its Photo with Santa and Wake Up Santa! events, complete with reindeer pony rides, face-painting, a Santa letter-writing station and the Grinch’s hot cocoa bar. The event starts at 10:30 in the Center Court by Dillard’s.

Bellringers also are needed, Mike said. Anyone interested can call the center at (904) 276-6677, extension 4310, or they can come by the office at 2795 County Road 220 in Middleburg to fill out an employee packet, but the easiest way is to register at www.registertoring.com. Individuals and groups are needed. Some locations already have been filled by Clay County Schools District NJROTC organizations, Beta Clubs and the National Honor Society.

The bellringing program will run from Nov. 19 to Dec. 24.

"For families living in poverty, the financial and emotional stress only increases at Christmas. With inflation everything has gone up there are a lot of people struggling to make ends meet," Mike said.

Julie is passionate about the Angel Tree program. She remembers being young and getting a coloring book and crayons from the program one year for Christmas.

“When you’re not expecting anything it’s a lot,” she said. “That’s why the Angel Tree program means so much to me because I know that it makes a big difference.”