Believe Trees to be at churches Sunday

By Sam Waller

The next step in the Albany Ministerial Alliance’s Believe Tree for Teens program begins Saturday with trees distributed to local churches.

Six participating congregations – Mathews Memorial Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Maranatha Fellowship, First Baptist, First Christian, and Friendsahip Christian – will have trees with ornaments containing details for applicants.

“Those who attend one of the participating churches can look for their tree this Sunday and choose an ornament, then shop for that teen,” Ministerial Alliance secretary Tisha Wilkins said. “A wish list will be included in that envelope with sizes and wants and needs and likes.”

Believe Tree for Teens provides gifts for approximately 40 junior high and high school students in Shackelford County. The program received 41 requests this year.

Wilkins said gifts, which should be unwrapped, are due Monday, Dec. 13.

“They can be  taken to their church or to me at The Feed Store,” she said. “Families will be picking the gifts up on Dec. 19.”

Although donations are not solicited because individuals and families fulfill the wish lists, Wilkins can be contacted at 325-660-7443 if someone who doesn’t have a local church family wants to help.