NATCHEZ — Natchez Children’s Home Services is celebrating its 200th Christmas this year.

The milestone is one Executive Director Nancy Hungerford says would not be possible without the support the organization has continued to receive from the community.

NCHS has also adapted its services through the years to survive and be able to continue serving area children.

“I think the reason we have reached that milestone of 200 Christmases is because, No. 1, we have met needs of our children,” Hungerford said. “Our mission is the same, to provide services and support and advocacy for at-risk children and their families. We’ve done that by serving as a residential center and now day treatment programs. We’ve been willing to be flexible about how we deliver services, and that’s why we’ve been able to survive. We’ve not shifted our mission, but the way we deliver services to our kids.”

NCHS offers a variety of services to children and their families, including serving as a child advocacy center.

Through the Natchez Children’s Home Services’ Children’s Advocacy Center, trained professionals interview children who have suffered physical, sexual or emotional abuse or who have witnessed a violent crime for the purposes of preparing cases for trial.

The children’s home also provides victim advocacy, trauma-focused therapy, family counseling and other follow-up services for children and families in five counties.

The NCHS Children’s Advocacy Center was created four years ago and is set to receive accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance.

The alliance recently concluded a visit to the center, which passed with flying colors, Hungerford said.

“We were given a very clean passing grade with no recommendations for any changes,” she said. “That means the Children’s Advocacy Center in Natchez has now attained the highest level of accreditation, so we are very excited about being recognized for using the very best practices and following the protocols in place.”

To continue its mission of serving abused and neglected children and their families, NCHS needs continuous financial support from the community, Hungerford said.

On the holiday wish list for NCHS are “bravery gifts” that are given to children once their interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center is finished.

The center interviews children ages 3 to 18, and Hungerford said NCHS generally receives plenty of gifts for small children.

NCHS is most in need of gifts for teenagers, Hungerford said, and donations can include “anything a teenager might like,” from a DVD or a fleece blanket to a pair of sunglasses or hygiene products.

Donations can be dropped of at NCHS, located at 806 N. Union St.

Monetary donations can be made online at ntzchs.org or mailed to Natchez Children’s Home Services at P.O. Box 2028, Natchez, MS 39121.

Call 601-442-6858 for more information.