After a formal kickoff Friday, the Salvation Army Angel Tree program is now in full swing.

One of the program’s largest corporate donors, Citizens National Bank, located at 1127 Highway 15 N., celebrated the start of their annual drive Monday with Captain Stephanie Mockabee of the Laurel Salvation Army.

Mockabee noted that while some children have asked for large purchases like an X-Box, they are “merely suggestions.”

“A child would be happy with anything,” she said. “Whatever you feel in your heart to give to that child, I think it will be well received.”

In a press release, Mockabee’s husband, Captain Bill Mockabee, who couldn’t attend the ceremony, said, “We encourage our donors to buy a set of clothing and two $10 to $12 gifts, providing a very rounded Christmas experience for the child, and usually this can be done for under $50, of course a donor may purchase anything he/she would like for their Angel.”

Susan Wood, manager of Citizens National Bank in Laurel, said donors at the bank have always been very generous. Wood said she was the first to pull from her company’s Angel Tree this year.

“They gave a lot of bicycles last year,” she said. “Children two to three years old and up all want bicycles.”

Wood said her employees often team up to provide a Christmas gift for an Angel. She noted that those wishing to give this year can always find a partner, if the gift is out of their individual price range.

“My Sunday School class always gives at least one Angel every year,” she said.

Mockabee said that, with the decline in the economy and people losing jobs, this year’s Angel Tree has more needs than usual. Over 1,600 needy children in the Salvation Army’s six-county area — including over 700 children in Jones and Jasper counties —are seeking gifts.

To qualify for assistance, the families must provide proof of income and expenses, proof of the children living in their household, birth certificates and a picture ID of the head of the household.

“These are families who can barely afford to pay their rent and bills, much less provide a Christmas for their kids whom some we see for emergency assistance as well,” Bill Mockabee said.

Those wishing to donate to the Angel Tree program can select an Angel from one of the trees located throughout Laurel and the surrounding areas. This year, trees are located at Sawmill Square Mall, Wal-Mart, Bay Springs Library, Omni Bank in Bay Springs, Wayne Farms, Howard Industries, Citizens National Bank and the Salvation Army headquarters at 205 N. 13th Ave.

Wood noted that the program is one Citizens National Bank takes on each year, with each of its 27 branch locations throughout the state hosting an Angel Tree.

“We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of Angels in each office,” she said. “Every office has a very successful response.”

Donors are reminded to bring their gifts unwrapped and labeled with the Angel code, Mockabee said.

“We’re concerned for the safety of the child and whether the gift is age appropriate,” she said. “We also want to give parents the opportunity to wrap their child’s gift since they can’t provide it for them. If you want to provide wrapping paper, that’s always appropriate.”

The deadline for donating at the various locations is Dec. 10.

The Angel Tree program is, of course, not the only way to help the Salvation Army during the Christmas season. Other opportunities include:

• Volunteer to ring the bell in front of local businesses

• Host your own online Red Kettle at www.onlineredkettle.com

• Volunteer to work at the Angel Tree

• Volunteer to give toys out at distribution

• Make a monetary gift. Checks made out to the Salvation Army can be mailed to P.O. Box 2548, Laurel, Miss., 39442, or delivered to the office.

For more information about contributing to the Salvation Army or helping during the holiday season, call the Laurel office at 601-428-4232.