BANGOR – Wal-Mart’s Northern Maine District 204 awarded a $2,500 check to the Maine Army National Guard Family Program coordinator Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Claudel and Chaplain Maj. Andrew Gibson. The donation will help support the families of deployed soldiers.

Don Emmons, regional coordinator of communications for Wal-Mart, said his son was deployed, so he understands the importance of the family program.

Also attending was Skip Chappelle, Bangor coordinator of Operation Community Support, who has provided the Family Assistance Center with tickets to the circus, ice hockey games and other fun events for military families to attend. Chappelle coordinates the effort with a representative of the center.

Another organization that has joined Operation Community Support is the Maine Discovery Museum, which offers free admission to dependent family members of Maine National Guard and Reserve troops on active duty overseas.