For the sixth consecutive year, the LaSalle Ministerial Alliance (LMA), in partnership with the LaSalle Parish School System’s (LPSB) APPLES program, ministered to the needs of many families during the Christmas season through the Angel Tree Christmas Program.
This year, the Angel Tree program was able to minister to the needs of over 211 children within 94 families and multiple individual families, thanks to the participation of 15 local churches, businesses and many individuals in LaSalle Parish.
“LaSalle is a great community and it is amazing to see what happens when people come together in the name of Christ,” LMA President Heath Harris said. “The Alliance would like to send heartfelt gratitude for every family and individual who donated money, gifts, and/or time and together made a difference in the lives of these children and families.”
On Saturday, December 14, hundreds of children and families descended upon the LMA Celebrate Recovery complex (former cafeteria of the old Jena Elementary School on US 84 East) where Christmas gifts were distributed along with many more acts of kindness.
“Each parent (of the Angel Tree child) filled out a detailed Christmas list in preparation for Saturday,” Harris said. “Each list is anonymously giv- en to an Angel sponsor – the person who really makes the program a success – and who spends up to $125 on shirts, pants, shoes, socks, and two ‘wished for’ items.”
Also at the Angel Tree Christmas Program distribution day were many volunteers from various churches who helped distribute gifts and offered to pray with each family. This year the LMA also purchased families a Christmas ham, along with a kids Bible and Gospel track.
“Together, we are giving over $30,000 in gifts and food. Yet, the most valuable thing we can offer each family is the love and Good News of Jesus Christ. It is our hope that each family finds and flourishes in a local church.” Harris said.
Although the distribution of gifts occurred December 14, the program actually began in October as the LMA worked in conjunction with LPSB APPLES Coordinator and Homeless Liaison Stephanie Francis, who helps identify children in the school system who meet the LMA suggested qualifications.
“It’s important to understand that APPLES is different from the Angel Tree Program but both programs work together to help meet the needs of children in our parish,” Francis said. “APPLES is specific in that it assists children who are defined as ‘homeless’ and the grants we receive for this program must be exclusively used for those children. Some children in our parish are needy, but not homeless, and that’s where the Angel Tree Program steps in to fill that gap.”
“For instance, Angel Tree may help a working single mom, who is not homeless, but needs help providing for her children,” Harris added.
Many years ago, former LPSB Homeless Liaison Missy McEntyre realized the gap and began the Angel Tree Christmas Program in conjunction with the APPLES program. However, it didn’t take long to realize the need was so great that it would require more people becoming involved.
“Many churches and individuals were participating but the needs and number of children kept increasing and it became more than one person could handle,” Harris said. “That’s when, in 2019, the Alliance agreed to mobilize the churches to help meet this need. We believe we can do more for Christ when we work together across denominational and church lines. We are honored to continue that partnership today with Stephanie and we have a great Angel Tree Team led by Sharon Strozier and Julie Bird, of Bellevue Baptist Church, who oversee much of the work behind the scenes.”
Each year’s Angel Tree list is kept confidential from the LMA and sent to qualifying families in partnership with the LaSalle Parish School System.
“Due to the fact that so many are not considered homeless but are in need of assistance, there are no better individuals to recognize those needs than personnel within the system who work with the children throughout the school year. However, we are very careful to abide by all privacy laws during this entire process. Parents receive an application in the mail and voluntarily approve to have their child’s name placed on the LMA Angel Tree list,” Francis said.
“Yes, and each person who chooses to be an ‘Angel’ to a child, does not know the name or school of the child they are sponsoring… it is completely anonymous,” Harris added.
Also on Saturday morning, Francis and a handful of volunteers were at the Jena Walmart, assisting some 280 children in the APPLES program to shop for their Christmas presents.
“Through the APPLES program, we were able to see all of these children shop for Christmas presents,” Francis said. “It was a great morning of shopping as these children and their parents were able to shop for Christmas presents. The rule was they had to shop for Christmas presents for themselves and they had a great time doing just that.”
Francis noted that last year, a new Louisiana law went into effect that prevents the school system from conducting their APPLES raffle that is normally held to raise money for the APPLES Christmas Shopping Spree held each year.
Without the APPLES raffle, Francis said they have to rely upon donations from the community in a greater capacity for the Christmas shopping sprees.
“So, every dollar matters and is greatly appreciated,” she said. “If anyone is looking for a great investment in the lives of children, this is something I would highly recommend.”
Beyond dozens of individual families, hundreds participated in the 2024 Angel Tree Christmas program through local churches such as: Bellevue Baptist Church, Sanctuary Family Worship Center, Temple Baptist Church, Prosperity Baptist Church, Crossroads Baptist Church, Life Church LaSalle, First Baptist Church – Jena, Lifepoint Assembly of God, Mars Hill Baptist Church, L&A Baptist Church, New Evergreen Baptist Church, Fellowship Baptist Church, Searcy Baptist Church, Pritchard Baptist Church, First Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Nolley Memorial Methodist Church, Prosperity Baptist Church, and LaSalle Baptist Association. In addition, local businesses included NV Consulting, Universal Plant Services Midstream, Woodmen of the World, Rosier Benefits, LaSalle General Hospital, LaSalle Economic Development District, LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jena Police Department, Jena Fire Department and LaSalle Parish Teachers and Faculty.
“The Angel Tree Ministry is a partnership between the LaSalle Ministerial Alliance and the APPLES program that connects local churches, businesses and families to qualifying students in need annually,” Harris concluded. “But our main purpose is to demonstrate the love of Jesus as ONE Church in LaSalle Parish.”
For more information or to find out ways to become involved with the Angel Tree Christmas Program, contact the LMA at (318) 992-0793, email at lasalle.alliance@gmail.com, or visit lasallealliance. org. They also have a Facebook account under the same name.
For more information about the LPSB APPLES program or to donate for Christmas next year, contact Francis at (318) 992-2161 or email at sfrancis@lasallepsb.com.
Photos from the Angel Tree Program Distribution Day:
