The temperature outside is pushing 100 degrees but inside the Vicksburg branch of the Salvation Army, Santa and his reindeer are already enjoying snow.

Christmas has come for the organization that sponsors the Angel Tree program in hopes that, by preparing early, every needy child will receive a Christmas stocking this year.

“The stockings are given out through the Angel Tree program,” said Phyllis Renfro, president of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. “We have the trees, and then, in addition to that, we fill stockings to give to every child in each family who receives gifts through the Angel Tree.”

The Angel Tree program was started 20 years ago by Mary Kay Beard, a bank robber sentenced to 21 years in prison. While jailed, Beard joined a prison ministry that led her to establish Angel Tree, a program that provided Christmas gifts to children of convicts.

“Some Christian groups would come to the prison, and they would bring little trial-size tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap, and bottles of shampoo,” Beard has said. “I noticed that women who never went to chapel or did anything Christian always went to those programs.

“I thought they were just greedy, but I saw them bring the items back to their cells and start organizing the stuff and trading with each other. And then they would divide the items up into piles and I realized that each pile was for one of their children. That’s what they would give their children as Christmas gifts because it was all they had.”

Beard said she initially hoped to provide Christmas for 200 to 300 children. Today the Angel Tree program helps children nationwide.

“We’ve been involved with all this as long as anyone can remember,” Renfro said. “We are just asking the community, clubs, individuals, school groups, everybody, to get involved with the stockings and help us do this for these kids.”

The local Salvation Army has expanded its ministry to include children in need as well as those of inmates. The program last year provided gifts for about 1,000 children in the Vicksburg area but only 500 stockings were available, Capt. Patrick Lyons said.

“We are hoping to fill about 1,000 stockings this year,” said Lyons, who runs the organization with his wife. “The things that are in there are just the little things that these kids need, simple stuff that goes a long way. If we’re going to be able to do this for these kids we’re going to have to start now and we’re going to need help.”

To helpEmpty stockings are available at the Salvation Army, 530 Mission 66 and may be picked up during regular business hours. Each stocking should be returned before Sept. 30 and have a stick-on label identifying its contents for a boy or girl and a specified age group: 0-3 years, 4-8 years or 9-12 years. Suggested stocking items include small cars, dolls, balls, hair ribbons, crayons and books. No perishables, candy or gum should be included. For more information call the Salvation Army, 601-636-2706, or call Phyllis Renfro, 601-638-7999.To get helpApplications to be a part of the Angel Tree program will be accepted from Sept. 29 until Oct. 30. Identification, Social Security cards, income and expenses for all in the household are required. Applications are available at the Salvation Army, or call 601-636-2706.