Combing forces to better meet the needs of children in the Pea Ridge School District, the Pea Ridge Ministerial Alliance Angel Tree project welcomes Bright Futures Pea Ridge on board.
Applications are being accepted now through Nov. 20.
Al Fowler, treasurer of the alliance and pastor of First Baptist Church, said there are important changes in the program, changes of which he wants parents applying for gifts to be aware.
One change is that children must live within the Pea Ridge School District or be attending Pea Ridge schools. Children through 12th grade will be served; previously the cut off was 12 years of age.
All applications must be received by Nov. 20, there will be no exceptions, and those applications must either be mailed or dropped off at First Baptist.
Fowler explained tht in the past, some people showed up on distribution day claiming to have dropped off an application, but it was not received by the Ministerial Alliance.
The application does request the child's Social Security number and a photocopy of the Social Security card.
"That information is kept private in a secure file in our office," Fowler said, explaining that information helps the organization to better meet children's needs and is cross checked with Caring and Sharing.
"We will send a confirmation in writing and telephone the parents," Fowler said, adding that if a parent turns in an application and hasn't heard back from the staff, they should call the church office to confirm whether the application has been processed.
The distribution date is the second Saturday in December -- Dec. 13.
There will be angel trees at both Arvest and Community First banks in Pea Ridge.
"Our deadline is real," Fowler said, explaining that he and other members of the alliance desire to minister to the children and don't want any application "falling through the cracks."
"We're so thankful for how the Pea Ridge community has supported this in the past. People have been very gracious and generous to support people in need at Christmas," he said. "We look forward to continuing to partner with Bright Futures and members of the community."
General News on 10/08/2014