Natchez Community Hospital recently presented a $1,000 check to the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund.

The benevolent fund provides Christmas gifts and toys for more than 300 Natchez area children each year.

&uot;This fund helps so many local children and it is one of the oldest and most established charitable organizations in our area,&uot; said David Ainsworth, executive director of Natchez Community. &uot;We at Natchez Community wanted to contribute to an organization that we knew would help spread Christmas cheer and joy to children right here in our town. Katherine Killelea and her crew are to be commended for carrying on this wonderful tradition all these years.&uot;

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.

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, Miss., 39120 or The Democrat, P.O. Box, 1447, Natchez, Miss., 39121.

Gifts received include:

Natchez Community Hospital, $1000.

Natchez Lions Club, $500.

Tuesday Bridge Club, Lynn Bradford, $25.

In memory of granddaddy Gay from Amy, Heather, Lindsey and Lauren, $100.

Mike Worley, $25.

In memory of the Boss Allison Foster, from Charles and Billie Laird, $50.

The Flynns, $10.

In honor of friends and clients of the law offices of Bruce M. Kuehnle Jr., PLLC, $350.

Caroline Stowers, $25.

Anonymous, $25.

In memory of Marty Worley, from the employees of Dunleith, $280.

In memory of Mom, $25.

In memory of Fred L. Johnson, from Ester and Roy, $10.

In memory of Daddy Wink, from Kyle, Anna, Sarah and Madeleine, $20.

In memory of Cameron Callon Daniels, from Mr. and Mrs. John S. Callon, $100.

In memory of Charles Hayden Petkovsek Jr. and Jeanene Petkovsek Jones, from Shirley C. Petkovsek, $25.

In memory of J.P. Trosclair, from Mrs. J.P. Trosclair, $25.

In memory of Virginia Cook, W.E. Risher and Mary Weatherby, from Ross and Lee Partridge, $100.

In memory of Al Yearby, from Fred and Karen Callon, $25.

Tuesday Bridge Club, $300.

In memory of the Tuesday Bridge Club, Gina Latham, $25.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Punches, $25.

Tuesday Bridge Club, Darlene Christian, $25.

Tuesday Bridge Club, Kay Jenkins, $25.

Tuesday Bridge Club, Sara Blough, $25.

Tuesday Bridge Club, Marcia Dale McCullough, $25.

Tuesday Bridge Club, F.H. Killion, $25.

In memory of Capt. Walter Murphy, from the Natchez Fire Department, $100.

In memory of Denise Rodriguez, $25.

Anonymous, $100.

In memory of W.P. Lambdin, from Brandy Elizabeth and Madison Claire Colbert, $100.

In memory of Papa Ken, Mimi, Paw Paw Ray, from Meagen, Catherine and Ella, $50.

In memory of Papa Sharp and Richard Sharp, $100.

In loving memory of Gebo and Caroline, $100.

John Mott Coffey, $40.

Anonymous, $100.

In memory of Agnes Watson Harris, Charles and Lauren Green Custers, Ernest E. Dawkins Sr., from Dr. Walter E. Dawkins, $100.

In memory of Morris Doughty, from Santa ’68, $25.

Joan Peabody, $25.

In memory of Jim Bob Meason, from his parents, $200.

In memory of Frank and Helen Junkin, from Buster and Shelly Junkin, $50.

John M. Marchbanks, $25.

In memory of Eddie Max Newman, by his wife, Cathy, $50.

Mrs. Hugh Tedder, $25.