On Dec. 8, Wal-Mart in Helena presented $13,500 in grants to the local community. The company has given a total of $35,500 to the community this year.

Store officials said the company tries to make the greatest impact on communities by supporting issues and causes that are important to its customers and employees in their own neighborhoods.

The company relies on its associates to determine how Wal-Mart Foundation dollars will be spent, they said.

This year's grants include:

$250 grants: General Federation of Women's Clubs --printed WHALE pamphlets for child safety occupant identification; State Capital Band -- purchase new music for the upcoming season.

$500 grants: The Angel Fund -- school clothing, shoes, coats, school supplies, back packs, field trips, school projects, and other required items for school; Carroll College -- Carroll College Saints Athletic Association, which provides scholarships for student athletics; Eastgate Volunteer Fire Department --toward the purchase of new SCBA's breathing apparatus; Girl Scouts of Big Sky ---toward road repair at Camp Thunderbird; Good Samaritan Ministries and Thrift Store -- for infant formula and baby items; Head Start -- for children's underwear and sweatpants; Helena Indian Alliance -- for emergency prescriptions and surgical instruments; Helena Symphony -- for Christmas decorations for the stage; Lewis and Clark Humane Society -- for animal food; Lewis and Clark Literacy Council -- new books and training materials for the adult literacy library; Liberty House -- for trees and wheelchair runway; Make A Wish Foundation -- for children with life-threatening illnesses. Some 28 wishes will be granted in Montana this year; The Montana Meth Project -- toward matching the Tom Siebel $5 million Foundation' the NRA Foundation -- the Eddie Eagle and hunter's education youth programs; York Volunteer Fire Department --toward a 40,000-gallon underground water storage tank to fight structure fires.

$1,000 grants: Farm in the Dell -- to purchase gifts for those who are in the Boulder Institution; Intermountain Children's Home -- towrad a washing machine; Helena Food Share -- to purchase holiday food; Salvation Army -- to help those less fortunate with housing, rent, electric, gas, medical prescriptions; Toys for Tots -- to purchase toys.