Arrowhead Ranch, West Valley Homes, West Valley Realtor, Linda Booker

Since 1985, when Linda Booker became an angel, she has touched the lives of thousands of Valley children. That was the year she started a program that today is called Christmas Angels.

Every year, in August or September, the Valley Realtor starts collecting toys and clothes for needy children. The children could be homeless or in single-parent homes. Or they could have a father or mother in jail or prison.

Linda believes her work in helping children has come full circle. Her own family had a dim future when she started helping needy children, and today she is one of the Realty Executives' international top U.S. salespeople.

Linda Booker, Realty Executives and Randy Johnson, Wal-Mart Store Manager

Booker and her volunteers set up Christmas trees in participating Wal-Marts, Arrowhead Community Bank and Compass Banks in the Sun City area. The Wal-Mart stores throughout the Valley have been for the past ten years the number one source of providing Christmas presents for this program. On the trees are names of children and what they would like for Christmas. Customers are invited to buy presents for the children and leave them with the Customer Service Department. Volunteers collect the gifts and arrange for their delivery to the children. Often, teachers help Linda pick up the presents and deliver them to the needy children in their own classes. It really builds a bond between the children and their teachers.

Some of the children ask for basic items, such as shoes, socks or underwear. People have very giving hearts. When they see a child in need, it touches everyone's heart to want to give.