NATCHEZ &8212; The Christmas Tree Fund has a simple mission.

&8220;It&8217;s about helping underprivileged children get new toys,&8221; fund Chairman Katherine Killelea said.

The fund, which provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of area children each year, has been doing just that for more than 100 years. For a large part of that, Killelea has been helping make the fund possible.

But next year, she will step down after nearly 30 years as chairman.

After this year, Killelea will step down as head of the Christmas Tree Fund and let others take over. She said she has spoken to members of the Lambert family still living in the area about taking over and believes some of them will.

&8220;A number of the Junkins and Lamberts still help with this every year,&8221; Killelea said. &8220;And I&8217;ll still be around to help out. That&8217;s for sure.&8221;

The Natchez Christmas Tree Fund, started in 1900 by James Lambert, publisher of The Natchez Democrat, collects funds and donations from residents and local businesses, puts together bags of toys and delivers them to local children for Christmas.

Last year, the fund provided toys to 450 children, a number Killelea hopes to increase for this year. Names are collected from Catholic Charities and other local organizations. The children receive their presents from Santa Claus at the old Braden School.

&8220;To see the joy on the children&8217;s faces when they get that, it&8217;s amazing,&8221; Killelea said.

Killelea has been chairman of the fund for nearly 30 years, but her involvment goes back much farther than that.

&8220;I started helping when I was 13 when Grace Lambert (James Lambert&8217;s daughter) asked me to,&8221; Killelea said. &8220;We used to go to the Old Baker Grand Theater to pack up the toys back in those days.&8221;

In the late 1970s, Jimmy Lambert, another Lambert descendant, asked Killelea to take over running the fund. She&8217;s been heading up the effort every since, trying to provide Christmas gifts to more area children each year.

The charity is run entirely by local volunteers and depends on help from the community. &8220;We start the preparations in October, and it takes a lot of help,&8221; Killelea said. &8220;Kelly&8217;s Kids furnishes new clothes for each child, the Moose Club gives toys and so many area clubs give toys or donations. The Trinity Key Club has provided a lot of help the last few years. I have so many people that help me or this wouldn&8217;t happen.&8221;

To be a part of that help this year, send checks to: Katherine Killelea at Brown Barnett Dixon&8217;s, 511-515 Main St., Natchez, MS 39120 or toThe Natchez Democrat, P.O. Box 1447, Natchez, MS 39121.