The gift of giving...

Christmas will be brighter for a number of area children as a result of the "Angels of Christmas" Program.

The program, sponsored by the Daily Dunklin Democrat, features children whose Christmas might have been a bleak one. Nominated based on need, these "Angels" are featured in the newspaper annually before the Christmas holiday. This allows community members to "adopt" an Angel and provide the special help needed to make Christmas a joyous occasion.

The needs of these "Angels" are published confidentially in the newspaper, allowing members of the community to "adopt" an Angel, and provide the special help needed to make their Christmas a joyous occasion.

The only way an individual can get on the "Angels of Christmas" list is if they are referred to the Daily Dunklin Democrat by one of the sponsoring organizations. Each individual placed on the list is screened and verified as having a legitimate need.

Those charitable individuals who agree to adopt an "Angel" will receive the name, address and telephone number of the child they're helping so they may make arrangements with the child's family, to discover the needs and to deliver the Christmas gifts.

The following is a partial list of those who need someone to share Christmas:

* Angel No. 1 -- 1 year-old boy; size 2-3 T, shoe size 7; 2 year-old girl, size 3-4 T, shoe size 8; 3 year-old girl, size 4-5 T, shoe size 10; 4 year-old boy, 5-6 T, shoe size 11; six year-old boy, size 7-8 T, shoe size 1 1/2; 9 year-old boy, size 10-12, shoe size 3 1/2. They would like to have a radio or DVD player and a ham for food. For the boys, a race car; the baby boy a baby game; the girls-baby dolls.

* Angel No. 2 -- 8 year-old girl, shirts girls 10-12, jeans size 10, shoe size 4; 9 year-old boy, shirts 14-16 boys, jeans 14-16 husky boys, shoe size 6; 13 year-old girl, shirts small in woman's, jeans double 00, shoe size 5. Pillows, blankets, towels, and food. 13 year-old girl loves makeup, nail polish, lip gloss and perfume. 9 year-old boy enjoys music and loves sports, would like to have a radio for his room. 8 year-old girl loves to draw and do crafts, likes pure girl, nail polish, lip gloss and purses. They all like crafts.

* Angel No. 3 -- 7 year-old boy, jeans size boys 8, shirt size boys medium; 8 year-old boy, jean size boys 10, shirt size boys large; 10 year-old boy, jean size boys 12, shirt size boys x-large. 10 year-old likes skateboarding, especially Tony Hawk; seven and eight year-old boys anything to do with wrestling. Family needs help with food and cleaning supplies.

* Angel No. 4 -- 8 year-old boy, boys 10 husky, shoe size 4; 11 year-old girl, clothes 14 girls, shoe size 4 girls . 11 year-old girl wants a snuggie and a Barbie. 8 year-old boy likes hotwheels, books and diary of Wympie Kid. Family needs food and hygiene items.

* Angel No. 5 -- Boys size 10 pants and shirts, shoe size 5 1/2 boys; boys size 14 pants and shirts, shoe size 8 boys. Boys like baseball cards, wrestling figurines, hats, baseball gloves or anything to do with baseball. The family needs can goods and meat.

* Angel No. 6 -- Family of 7. They need food, and household items.

* Angel No. 7 -- 9 year-old boy, boys extra large 4, shoe size 6 boys; 2 year-old girl, girls toddler 2 +, shoe size toddler 6 1/2 girls; 3 month-old boy, infant 0 to three months boys; mother of the family, adult size 7 women's, shoe size 9 in women's. 9 year-old likes DS, sparks scooter, game boy, and drum set; 2 year-old likes babydoll sets, bikes, and power wheelers; 3 month-old needs clothes and infant items; and the mother asks for any household items and anything that can help the family.

* Angel No. 8 -- Family of 4. 8 year-old boy, pants size large and shirt size large; 3 year-old boy, pants and shirt size medium; 3 year-old girl, pants size 10 and shirt size medium; 2 year-old girl, pants size 9 and shirt size medium. The 3 year-old girl asks for make-up, baby dolls, and other toys; the 3 year-old boy asks for a remote control car, and any other toys; the 12 year-old boy asks for a remote control car and any other kind of toys; the 9 year-old girl asks for a baby doll, make-up, stroller, and any other toys. The family needs any kind of household items or food.

* Angel No. 9 -- Family of 4. 10 year-old boy, 10-12 boys in shirt size, 10 husky in boys pants; 12 year-old girl, 12-14 girl shirt size, 14 regular girl pants size, shoe size 4 1/2 girl's; 14 year-old boy, 16-18 boy shirt size, 28X30 men's husky pants size, shoe size 8 men's; mother, shirt size 16-18 women, pant size 14 tall women's, and shoe size 10 women's. 12 year-old girl asks for anything Twilight, CD players, Miley Cyrus t-shirts; 14 year-old boy asks for Lil' Wayne CD's, Chris Brown CD's, and CD player; 10 year-old boy asks for WWE wrestling figures, WWE wrestling ring, Playstation games, and the Twilight movie. The family also needs ham, can goods, boxed goods, pots, pans, shampoo, dish soap, and laundry soap.

* Angel No. 10 -- 10 year-old boy, shirt size 10-12 boys, shoe size 2; 7 year-old girl, shirt size 8-10 girls, shoe size 1; mother, shirt size medium or large, shoe size 8-8 1/2 women's. The 10 year-old asks for 2 lbs of modeling clay, a kit with modeling clay, color explosion glowing dome, small Legos, and Lego star wars; the 7 year-old girl asks for hoop earrings, a Nintendo DS, a science book on rocks and minerals, and anything Hannah Montana. The family also needs any type of meat, towels, wash cloths, dish cloths, dish towels, laundry soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, paper plates, paper towels, and plastic silverware.

* Angel No. 11 -- Family of 5. 11 year old, shoe size 4, shirt size 9, pants size 8; 9 year old, shoe size 3, shirt size 8, pants size 6; 8 year-old, shoe size 3, shirt size 8, pants size 7; 6 year-old, shoe size 3, shirt size 6, pants size 6; 4 year-old, shirt size 5, pant size 5. The 11 year-old asks for anything twilight, the 9 year-old asks for anything Bratz, the 6 year-old asks for anything Princess, the 8 year-old asks for anything Spiderman, and the 4 year-old asks for anything Transformers.

* Angel No. 12 -- 11 year-old boy, shoe size 6 1/2, shirt size XL, pants size 36-30; 10 year-old boy, shoe size 5 1/2, shit size large, pants size 14-16; 9 year-old boy, shoe size 4 1/2, shirt size large, pants size 12; 7 year-old girl, shoe size 3 1/2, shirt size medium, pants size 10-12; 6 year-old boy, shoe size 1 1/2, shirt size small, pants size 7-8; mother, shoe size 8 1/2, shirt size XL, pants size 12. The 11 year-old asks for Transformers, games of any kind, and smell goods; the 10 year-old asks for Transformers, games of any kind, and smell goods; the 9 year-old asks for Transformers, games of any kind, and smell goods; the 7 year-old asks for a CD player, make-up, Brats, pony tail holders, and smell goods; the 6 year-old asks for games to plug-in and play on TV, cars, and smell goods. The family also needs a washer and dryer, bedding covers and sheets for boys and girls, and a kitchen table.

Persons to contact at the Daily Dunklin Democrat if you want to SPONSOR an Angel of Christmas on the "Angels of Christmas" list include Deanna Coronado, Debbie Wright, Judy Holt and Bud Hunt. The telephone number to contact someone regarding the program is (573) 888-4505.

You may also correspond through email at dcoronado@dddnews.com, or jholt@dddnews.com.

When the needs of an individual listed in the newspaper have been met, it will be indicated in future articles by being marked "adopted."