Hard times convinced Linda Booker that no child should be without toys at the holidays. So 15 years ago, with no funds but a lot of heart, she founded Christmas Angels, a program that collects toys and clothes for needy children and adults in the Phoenix area. Each November she sets up Christmas trees in local stores, such as Wal-Mart and Kmart, and hangs a wish tag for each child. Shoppers purchase the gift and leave it at the store. At Christmas she and her volunteers wrap and distribute the gifts. Last year alone, Christmas Angels gave 25,000 gifts.
