Angel Tree needs helpers

— A straitened economy means more people may need assistance providing Christmas gifts for their children, but also has the benefactors needing assistance.

Angel Tree has been a project in Pea Ridge for many years and is sponsored by the Pea Ridge Ministerial Alliance, a coordinated effort of all pastors in the area who want to participate. The alliance has always provided a box of food for the Christmas feast, including a turkey or ham, to every family who receives gifts for their children from the Angel Tree, but donations are down this year.

“Typically, from the food drives in the community, we receive enough for the Angel Tree,” pastor Al Fowler said, but said the supplies were less this year than in the past.

The organization has served about 40 families in the past.

There are usually about 100 children’s names on the tree.

The trees will be at both Arvest Bank, Pea Ridge and Community First Bank. To adopt an “angel,” a person just takes the paper tag with the information, and then turns in the gifts by ...

As for the food, Fowler and pastor Edwin Brewer said financial donations would be greatly appreciated.

“We buy food from the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and everything they sell to us is 18 cents a pound,” Fowler said, explaining that the alliance can get more food for less money than people purchasing the food at the grocery store.

“We coordinate with Caring and Sharing so we don’t duplicate,” Brewer said.

To apply for assistance from Angel Tree, a person may pick up a form at First Baptist Church, Pea Ridge, which has an office staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

“Historically, the angel tree has been supported completely by the citizens ofPea Ridge,” Fowler said, “often at little or no expense to the alliance. We’ve been the conduit.”

The Ministerial Alliance received two $1,000 donations - one from the Walton Family Foundation and one from Wal-Mart through the First Church of the Nazarene. The alliance is a nonprofit organization (501C3) and donations are tax deductible.

“We’ve helped people bless needy families,” Fowler said.

“Often the Ministerial Alliance gets unnoticed once the Angel Tree is over, but we do much more. We sponsor the baccalaureate,” Brewer said.

“There’s an ongoing need.”

Throughout the year, the churches in Pea Ridge provide benevolence through food and funds for emergency needs as funds are available, both men said.

“Times are tough,” Brewer said.

Three churches in the community contribute a small amount monthly to the alliance. Several pastors are members. The alliance meets monthly.

“We have so much more in common than we don’t,” Fowler, pastor of First Baptist Church, said.

“We throw all denominational differences out the window,” Brewer, pastor of Pea Ridge Assembly of God, said.

The Angel Tree distribution will be the second Saturday in December. Applications for aid must be turned in by Nov. 29.

Gifts should be both clothes and toys for a minimum expenditure of $60 per child. Packages should be returned, unwrapped to Pea Ridge City Hall or First Baptist Church by Friday, Dec.

4. Donations of gift wrap, ribbons, bows or tape are welcome.

Anyone wishing to donate, may send a check to the Pea Ridge Ministerial Alliance (PRMA) at P.O. Box 46, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.

News, Pages 1 on 11/24/2010