Year after year, the smiles remain the same. Children who might not

otherwise have any Christmas are called, one by one, to sit on Santa’s knee and receive a bag of toys and gifts. And in that special moment, Christmas joy is apparent on each child’s face. For 104 years, the holiday tradition that is the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund has brought Santa Claus to thousands of children in need.

Founded by former Natchez Democrat publisher James W. Lambert in 1900, the tree fund collects money that is used to provide toys, candy and clothing each Christmas Eve.

Lambert died just six years after he began the tradition, but it has lived on for more than a century.

In recent years, Natchez native Katherine Killelea &045; who began volunteering with the project when she was just a small girl &045; has headed the effort.

&uot;I love doing it,&uot; Killelea said. &uot;I like the people and the children. It’s just doing something for others.&uot;

Killelea credits not herself but her many helpers &045; the city public works department that helps decorate Braden School for the Santa Claus party, the school children who help wrap gifts, the many community members who donate money.

&uot;It’s not me,&uot; Killelea said. &uot;It’s the people that help. The people of Natchez always give. Š I don’t do it; everybody else does it.&uot;

But Killelea has been involved for many years, since Gracie Lambert offered her a cup of hot cocoa in exchange for helping out.

&uot;I had never seen anything like this before,&uot; Killelea said of the toy distribution.

For a 10-year-old, seeing so many other children receive gifts was enough to make her jealous.

&uot;I was a little envious that first year,&uot; she said with a smile. &uot;I was just a young girl.&uot;

But Killelea soon came to understand that the Christmas the tree fund provided was the only Christmas for so many children.

&uot;It was an eye opener,&uot; she said.

And ever since, Killelea has helped with the tree.

The Christmas Eve toy distribution begins with the Santa Claus parade, in which the Santa Claus Committee winds its way through Natchez streets until it ends up at Braden School for the main event.

There, children whose names have been provided to Killelea by Catholic Charities and other agencies have a chance to sit on Santa’s lap and receive their gifts. Each gift bag contains a toy &045; a tea set or doll or teddy bear or basketball &045; along with candy and fruit and clothing. Kelly’s Kids often donates children’s clothing to the fund, Killelea said.

In fact, the tree fund would not be possible without the donations of area residents &045; and some out-of-town gifts, as well, Killelea said.

Last year, she received a check in the mail from someone who wrote her he had been a recipient of such gifts in the past.

&uot;There are a lot of people raised in this city who got toys,&uot; Killelea said.

For the past several years, more than 350 children have received toys from the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund.

To donate this year, send checks to:

4Katherine Killelea at Brown Barnett Dixon’s, 511-515 Main St., Natchez, MS 39120 or to

4The Natchez Democrat, P.O. Box 1447, Natchez, MS 39121.