By Megan Ashley fink

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Approximately 300 little red angels sit nestled in a tree at Concordia Bank, waiting for someone to adopt them.

The Natchez Junior Auxiliary’s angel tree is adorned each year with paper angels listing the names, ages, genders and clothing sizes of local underprivileged children.

Local residents have the opportunity to pick out an angel and buy a gift for the child whose name is written on the angel.

Angel tree co-chair Melissa Brown said the program is rewarding because participants can feel a personal connection to the children they are helping.

“You get a personalized feel for who they are,” Brown said. “You know it’s going to a real person.”

The children who receive gifts range in age from newborns to 12-year-olds.

Brown said specific gifts are not necessary and are left up to those who adopt angels.

“Get them whatever you want,” Brown said. “They need toys. They need clothes. They need everything.”

Brown said the angel tree program has had great success in the past.

“By the end of it, people are coming in begging for angels and we’re all out,” she said.

Ernie Smith of Concordia Bank said the company enjoys supporting the annual project, including raising awareness and even purchasing gifts for some of the children.

“We try to help anyway we can,” Smith said. “Whatever they need. We hope we do it every year. It keeps the spirit of Christmas going.”

The tree will also be accessible at the Duncan Park canteen from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to allow those who are not able to get to the bank during weekday work hours to participate.

After choosing an angel and signing up to “adopt” the child, participants should wrap the gifts and turn them in at the lobby of Concordia Bank with the angel taped to the package as a label. Auxiliary volunteers ask all gifts be delivered to the bank by noon Dec. 11.

Concordia Bank is located at 45 Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.