Donations for the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund are coming in quickly.

The benevolent fund provides Christmas gifts and toys for more than 300 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 on Christmas Eve, the gifts are distributed by members of the Santa Claus Committee. This year’s distribution will be made at Braden School on Homochitto Street at 11 a.m.

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

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

Gifts received include:

Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge Anderson, $10.

Jack Benoist, $20.

Margaret Ward, $100.

In memory of W.J. Byrne Sr., Nell F. Byrne, W.J. Byrne Jr., Jack Byrne, Frank P. Byrne, Ann Blair Byrne, Bryan Edwin Byrne, T.J. Sullivan, $100.

In memory of Bootsie by Pam and Bobby, $50.

In memory of Charles L. Barry by his family, $25.

In memory of Dave Hewitt by Butch, Sue, Melissa and Marcus, $20.

Anonymous, $10.

James and Mary Lou Pevey, $25.

Yvonne Zimmerman, $25.

In honor of Tom Schwager, $25.

In memory of Corinne and Joe Ernst by Eleanor Ernst, $30.

In memory of Connie Ernst by Eleanor Ernst, $30.

In memory of A.C. Tipton Sr. by Jordan and Jacob Tipton, $25.

In memory of Helen Mae Miles Wood from Sara, Brandon, Aaron and Kelly, $100.

In memory of Arthur O’Malley and Paula O’Malley Cameron from mother and dad, $50.

Natchez Clearinghouse Association, $300.

In memory of John Kenda, from Santa Claus and Mrs. 1986, $100.

Anonymous, $50.

In memory of John and Doris Sanguinetti, $10.

Pat and Alyce Puderer, $10.

In memory of Caroline Shields Brown from Mr. And Mrs. Larry Brown, $50.

In memory of Mr. And Mrs. James Newton Jones from Mr. And Mrs. Larry Brown, $50.

In memory of Elizabeth Jones Brown from Mr. And Mrs. Larry Brown, $50.

John M. Marchbanks, $25.