Editor’s note: This story is part of a series highlighting the needs of area non-profits this holiday season.

NATCHEZ — Since 1816, The Natchez Children’s Home has cared for abused and neglected children when no one else could or did.

And just like those children depend on the staff on North Union Street, the Children’s Home depends on the community.

Eight-five percent of nonprofit’s operating costs come from donations.

“We exist on the kindness of an awful lot of people,” the center’s Executive Director Nancy Hungerford said.

Hungerford said her job is to stretch every dollar she receives to do the work of three in order to provide services to the children, their foster families and the at-risk families whose children were taken from them.

Many of the children come from homes where parents suffer from additions or disturbing backgrounds themselves, Hungerford said.

The center no longer houses long-term institutional stays as it once did because of a national movement that prefers foster care to group home situations.

Instead, the Children’s Home now hosts a preschool day-treatment in partnership with Catholic Charities.

The home also offers individual, group and family counseling, legal advocacy and education for at-risk children and families and hosts international mission trip opportunities.

Two day-treatment classes include eight children ages 3-5 with severe emotional disturbances or severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Hungerford said the children who attend the day-treatment often come from at-risk families and each child’s family receives Medicaid.

Without the day-treatment, the children would likely be removed from other schools less specialized to treat them and shifted around much of their lives, Hungerford said.

The home’s Development Director, Joe Mitchell, said he is often able see positive changes in the children even after one week of treatment.

“I have been astonished by the progress we see in children who, for so many, come from situation they think of as normal that just aren’t normal,” Mitchell said.

Hungerford said there is currently waiting list for a third preschool class as well as a waiting list for a new aftercare program that will target at-risk 6- to 8-year-olds.

The Children’s Home feeds the children two meals and a snack each day and busses pick them up and drop them off each day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

Hungerford said it is stressful running such important services while depending on donations, but experience has taught her to depend on the generosity of others and on God.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten more aware of the undeniable hand God has on this place,” she said. “Sometimes it looks bleak, and then the most unexpected people and unexpected places (donate).”

Hungerford said since the Children’s Home operates privately and does not depend on government grants, the home is unaffected by state or federal sanctioned funding cuts.

Individual donations are down, however, which is likely because of a struggling economy, Hungerford said.

“We’re hurting because our loyal givers are still giving, but they have less to give,” she said.

Hungerford said her goal for 2011 is to increase the number of members of the Children’s Club. The Children’s Club consists of individuals, churches or business who pledge monthly donations of whatever they can afford. She said the monthly commitments help her to budget the home’s operation.

Other items that would be especially helpful are gift cards to Walmart, Kmart, JCPenney and other stores, which would allow foster children of all ages a chance to receive Christmas presents, Hungerford said.

Consumable household and general items, such as Kleenex, toilet paper and clothes are also always in high demand, and the day-treatment can also use more school supplies.

Monetary donations can be dropped off in check form at the Children’s home or donated online at www.natchezchildrenshome.org.

Proceeds of the Children’s Home Christmas season pecan sale also benefit the home. Pecans can be purchased until Wednesday online or by phone at 601-442-6858.