For over 20 years, the Picayune Wal-Mart has been a driving force of donations for the Angel Tree Ministries program here and in surrounding areas. This year they received recognition in the form of a plaque and heart-felt “thank you” from Angel Tree Coordinator, Jane Manuel.

Angel Tree sets out to give presents on behalf of parents who are either in prison or court supervised custody. As Manuel says, “Its purpose is to spread the message of God’s love and grace through giving in His name.”

Manuel says, “I am so thankful to Wal-Mart, its associates, and Carol Thigpen, who has been a faithful liaison between Angel Tree and the Wal-Mart company for all of these years. Carol has been there for the entire time that Wal-Mart has been working with us and we have seen three different managers during this time. Thank the Lord, they all have got on board with this ministry.”

“Simply put, we could not have made it all these years with out the support and contribution of Wal-Mart,” she says.

This year alone, Angel Tree Ministries has given presents to over 300 local children and Manuel knows the need this year has been greater than ever with the local drug problem and the economy.

“Through the contributions of companies like Wal-Mart and the other groups in our community, God takes care of us and we are faithful to spread it around,” she says.