What is the Carol Wyatt Christmas Kids Program?

The Carol Wyatt Memorial Christmas Kids Program is a long-running community charity in St. Lucie County, Florida, closely tied to WPSL Radio.

Its core mission:

Help local children and families in need—especially during the holidays and through year-round safety programs.

Holiday Toy Program

One of the biggest parts of the program is the Christmas toy drive:

• Provides free holiday gifts to children (typically ages 0–12) in qualifying families
• Run in partnership with St. Lucie County Community Services Dept
• Families apply in advance to receive assistance
• Ensures kids who might otherwise go without still experience Christmas

More Than Christmas: Year-Round Impact

This isn’t just a holiday charity—it operates all year long.

Key programs include:

• Water safety & swim lessons
  • Helps prevent child drownings (a major issue in Florida)
  • Funds lessons for kids who otherwise couldn’t afford them
• Summer recreation programs
• Community fundraising events (golf tournaments, special events.)

The organization recently funded swim lessons for over 100 children through county programs. (Citizen Portal) 

The Carol Wyatt Legacy

The program is named in honor of Carol Wyatt, a longtime community leader and driving force behind Christmas Kids.

• She helped grow and sustain the program for decades
• Remembered for her deep commitment to helping local children
• The program was renamed in her honor after her passing

Local Roots & History

• Connected to WPSL Radio in Fort Pierce
• The broader “Christmas Kids” effort dates back as far as the 1940s
• Expanded significantly in the early 2000s after community tragedies highlighted the need for child safety programs, especially around water

(archive.tcpalm.com)

Community Driven

What makes it special:

• Funded by local donations, businesses, and events
• Supported by volunteers and radio promotion
• Directly benefits Treasure Coast families