Looking for a chance to make a difference in the life of a child this holiday season?

Donations are now being accepted for the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund.

The benevolent fund provides Christmas gifts and toys for more than 200 Natchez area children each year.

Founded in the early 1900s by then Democrat publisher James Lambert, the effort is funded entirely through community donations and support.

Each year, the gifts are distributed by members of the Santa Claus Committee on Christmas Eve. The distribution comes at the end of the Santa Claus Committee’s parade through town. This year’s distribution will be made at Braden School on Homochitto Street.

Children apply to become eligible to receive gifts from the fund through Catholic Charities, who organizes the list of recipients and passes it along to the many volunteers who collect the funding, purchase the gifts and organize the distribution.

Donations may be made in honor or in memory of a loved one and gifts are acknowledged through the newspaper.

Contributions may be sent care of Katherine Killelea at Brown Barnett Dixons, 511-515 Main St., Natchez, MS 39120 or The Democrat, P.O. Box, 1447, Natchez, MS 39121