Almost 125 children in Lincoln County still need the help ofgenerous residents and businesses to have a merry Christmas.

While more than half of the children’s names on the Wish Treesput up by Junior Auxiliary of Brookhaven have been adopted, treesare still full of ornaments with only a few days until thedeadline.

“It’s been going well, especially considering we took in morekids this year, but we really need some more kids adopted,” saidGinnie Dunaway, who is Wish Tree co-chair with Kristi Carver.

JA members have been thrilled at the wide variety of peoplegetting involved with the Wish Tree this year.

“Two Boy Scout troops adopted a child each, and today a Brownietroop is going to adopt. I’ve also heard of dance classes andclasses at schools adopting children,” said Dunaway.

Wish Trees are located at First Bank, Bank of Brookhaven, StateBank on Brookway Boulevard and Trustmark on Whitworth Avenue untilFriday afternoon, which is the deadline for turning in gifts forchildren adopted off those trees. Deadline for the Wish Tree atWal-Mart Supercenter is Sunday.

The descriptions of the children in need are written onornaments attached to the Wish Trees. Each ornament has the child’sage, shoe size, clothing sizes and sex listed on it.

“These are children referred to us through the schools. Weserved the city and county schools, along with the daycares,” saidCarver.

Those wishing to adopt a child should fill out the adjoiningside of the ornament with their own name, address and phonenumber.

“They leave that part in the bag beside the tree, so that ifthey don’t turn in their gifts in time we can contact them,” saidCarver.

Those people, churches, businesses or classes who adopt a childare asked to provide as much as possible. JA tries to give eachchild three toys, two outfits, socks, underwear, pajamas, shoes, atoothbrush, toothpaste and a coat.

“We have already bought coats for all the children throughdonations we’ve received,” said Dunaway.

All gifts should be left unwrapped and placed under the treewhere the ornament was pulled, with the ornament attached tothem.

The Wish Tree children who are not adopted by the community willnot be left out. JA plans to buy whatever items are not provided somonetary donations will also be welcome.