More than 200 snow white angels sit nestled in the Natchez Junior Auxiliary Angel Tree, waiting for someone to adopt them.

The special Christmas tree is adorned with paper angels that bear the name, age and sex of an underprivileged child, said JA President Esther Herring.

Children’s names are provided by the Department of Human Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates and Catholic Charities.

People &uot;adopt&uot; an angel from the tree and buy an age-appropriate gift for the child whose name is written on their angel. The gift is returned to the Angel Tree by Dec. 10, when gifts are distributed by the Junior Auxiliary to the agencies who provided the children’s names. Those agencies will distribute the gifts to the children.

The Angel Tree officially opened for business Monday morning, Herring said.

&uot;We had a dozen people come in first thing Monday and adopt angels,&uot; she said.

This marks the 13th year for the Junior Auxiliary to sponsor the Angel Tree at Deposit Guaranty National Bank at the corner of North Pearl and Franklin streets.

&uot;Deposit Guaranty has always been so generous in allowing us space and letting us move furniture,&uot; Herring said.

The Angel Tree is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the bank’s front lobby through Dec. 10.

&uot;We take turns sitting with the Angel Tree,&uot; Herring said. &uot;There will always be a Junior Auxiliary member here to help people with angel adoptions.&uot;

Angels not adopted by individuals will be adopted by the Junior Auxiliary.

Those who adopt angels receive angel Christmas ornaments.

&uot;We make the ornament different every year,&uot; Herring said. Many people have collected several Angel Tree ornaments over the years, she said.