Which child has the merrier Christmas – the one that gets morethan he wanted, or the one that gets more than he expected?

The answer is clear, especially if the child is expectingnothing at all.

The Junior Auxiliary of Brookhaven has begun adopting out needychildren from around Lincoln County in this year’s Wish Treeprogram, which allows compassionate buyers to fill a bag with needsand wants to help the county’s poorest children have something tosmile about on Dec. 25. Around 300 children, recommended by variousschool counselors, stand ready for retail adoption.

“For some, this is the only Christmas they’ll get,” said HeatherDouglas, the JA’s Wish Tree co-chairman. “Our kids have more thanenough, are blessed daily, but these kids are excited to get giftsone time a year.”

To get involved and help a child this Christmas, anyone can graban ornament from the Wish Trees positioned around Brookhaven. WishTrees are standing and waiting to be plucked of their ornaments atBank of Brookhaven, Broma’s, Just Kiddin’, King’s Daughters MedicalCenter, State Bank (on Brookway Boulevard), Trustmark National Bank(downtown) and Wal-Mart.

The small paper ornaments come in pairs, with one half listingthe child’s age and sizes and the other half to be filled out bythe shopper and placed in the JA’s box near the tree.

Pink ornaments represent girls; green ornaments are for boys.Ornaments with multiple tags are for brothers and sisters. Thechildren’s names will be kept confidential.

“Nobody is made to feel inferior for being on the list,” Douglassaid. “The JA members are the only ones who know who the kids are.The adopters know them by number only.”

Items suggested for Wish Tree children include three toys, apair of outfits, a pair of pajamas, shoes and socks, underwear anda toothbrush. All gifts should be returned unwrapped with theornament attached to the same location as the Wish Tree by Dec.1.

Anyone short on time but long on money can make a donation tothe Wish Tree program and JA members will shop for the child on thedonator’s behalf. Either way, none of the 300 children on the listwill be left out.

“Most of ours are adopted, but we take care of the rest. Lastyear we bought gifts for 75 children,” said Wish Tree Co-chairmanBuffy Ezell. “We also fill bags up the rest of the way with giftsif the person wasn’t able to get everything on the list.”

Shannon Aker, vice-president of Bank of Brookhaven, presentedthe JA with a $1,500 check the day a Wish Tree went up in thatlocation. He advised groups – Sunday school classes, offices, clubs- to adopt Wish Tree kids as a project.

“I encourage people, this year especially, to make it a familyproject,” Aker said. “Go have a meal together and shop for the WishTree.”