Annual MUSC Angel Tree Parade continues to touch hearts during the holidays

It had all the elements of a parade - floats, music, a grand marshal, mascots, princesses and characters, plus rows of cheerful street spectators. This was the set up on Dec. 10 at MUSC and around the Charleston Medical District Greenway, where the annual MUSC Angel Tree Parade and gift collection was underway.

Each year, for the past 21 years, MUSC has been a long-time contributor and host of this event that supports children via the Salvation Army of Charleston’s Angel Tree toy and gift drive. This community holiday event supports children, ages 13 and younger, from across the Lowcountry with toys and gifts. The program is coordinated by the Salvation Army Charleston.

For 2024, MUSC Angel Tree organizers distributed a total of 800 angels to be adopted by MUSC employees and participants around the Charleston Division, which began during the program kickoff and tree lighting event held at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital on Nov. 12. Participants picked up Angel Tree tags with the first name of a boy or girl and suggestions/wishes for clothes, toys or other necessities. Tagged gift bags were collected on parade day.

 

Highlighting each year’s parade is the grand marshal. This year it was Peter Durst, 6, a hematology oncology patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. Peter was featured on a special float along with mom, Alison Durst, and siblings, Madeline and Gabe Jr. Also joining the Durst family on the float was first lady Kathy Cole and granddaughter Emily Cole.

Next came other floats and parade guests including Saju Joy, M.D., MUSC Health Charleston Division CEO, Cool Ray of Charleston Stingray Hockey, the MUSC Public Safety Honor Guard, Charleston Pipe & Drum Corps, the Shriners Club, Glass Slipper Productions cast of superhero and Disney characters, MUSC Therapy Animal program, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, plus a procession of gift-laden pickup trucks, ATVs and response vehicles.

 

The parade made its way along the route ending at the Medical District Greenway, where employee volunteers unloaded bags full of gifts, toys and bicycles to sort items before loading them onto trucks headed to Salvation Army of Charleston’s headquarters in West Ashley and the North Charleston Convention Center to prepare for packing and distribution.

MUSC Angel Tree director and “Chief Elf” Melissa Kubu has been involved with the holiday gift giving program for 12 years - managing it now for six years and counting. She is especially proud of employees and participants for their continued support.

 

“Each year, the program gets more special knowing how much our MUSC family comes together to support Lowcountry children in need. The program provides joy to others during difficult times. The MUSC family is like no other. It’s easy to see from today’s and previous parades how much it means for MUSC participants to give back to the community and beyond. Everyone gives from their heart.”