NATCHEZ — The lobby of Concordia Bank will be filled with little angels beginning Monday and anyone in the Miss-Lou is more than welcome to pick one up to take home.

The approximately 200 paper-angel ornaments that will spruce up a Christmas tree in the bank lobby will each represent one area child who is in need of a present this holiday season.

It is all part of the Natchez Junior Auxiliary’s Angel Tree Project, which has been helping children in need for more than 15 years.

“These are underprivileged children who won’t be getting much or anything (for Christmas),” program chairman Jennifer Lambuth said. “This is something we are very proud to do. The majority of us are mothers, who can’t imagine not being able to have a toy for our kids.”

Catholic Charities and the Department of Human Services will each give the Junior Auxiliary the names of 100 children in need, and each name will be written on a cut-out angel along with the child’s age, clothing size and maybe one gift that child wants this Christmas.

From Monday to Dec. 14, individuals can come to Concordia Bank on U.S. 61 South and pick out an angel. Gifts should be returned to Concordia Bank before Dec. 14.

The project has been very successful the past few years, Lambuth said.

“The last three years, every child has gotten a toy,” she said. “We’ve had overwhelming support from the community.”

No specifications on toy options are listed, and Lambuth said the lobby at the bank turns into Santa’s workshop by the end of the program.

The Junior Auxiliary also accepts monetary donations that will be used to get gifts for any child whose angel has not been selected. If all the angels are selected, the Junior Auxiliary will use the monetary donations to help another family in need have a gift-filled Christmas, Lambuth said.

The Junior Auxiliary will also host a jewelry party at the Duncan Park Canteen Dec. 6 to raise money for Angel Tree and other programs. The event is from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information on the Angel Tree program or to donate contact Lambuth at 601-807-6708. Donations can be brought to Concordia Bank or mailed to P.O. Box 1592, Natchez, MS, 39120.