GAIL WHITE Adoption agency trims its tree with hopes

The Christmas tree in the lobby of Northeast Ohio Adoption Services in Warren, unlike other Christmas trees, has no ornaments on it.
Instead, hanging from the bows of this tree are angel note cards -- 763, to be exact.
Also, unlike with other Christmas trees, the hope of the adoption agency is that its tree will be completely bare by Christmas.
Each card hanging from the tree represents a child in Northeast Ohio waiting to be adopted.
Inside each card is a child's name, description and Christmas wish list.
Wishes: Folding open a card, I find a 15-year-old who loves basketball and camping. "His Christmas would be made very special," the card reads, "if he received any of the following: Basketball shorts (large, shiny fabric), PlayStation games (sports only), swimming goggles, cologne."
Another card describes a young girl who likes arts and crafts, horses and music. "She enjoys anything to do with Mary-Kate and Ashley" Olsen, the TV and movie-star twins, I read. Her wish list includes walkie-talkies and a Barbie karaoke machine.
The next card I open is my last. It has a ring to it that sounds like home to me. "A boy who is very active and enjoys playing outside, pretending he is an Army soldier," I read, picturing the child in my mind. "His Santa's wish list includes a Steelers jersey, radio-control vehicle, hiking boots and PlayStation games."
I have a similar list hanging on my refrigerator at home. The child who made the list in my hands, however, does not have a permanent home.
Program: For the past 17 years, the NOAS has decorated its tree in angel note cards with the hope that local "Santa Clauses" would "adopt" a child for Christmas.
"We usually have about 500 children," explains Gere Weller, a NOAS volunteer extraordinaire. "We were a little worried this year with so many."
But the tree is nearly bare -- fewer than 100 angel cards left.
"We have people come back year after year," Gere says, marveling at the generosity. "Some companies take 20 or 50. It's just so great," Gere adds. "You do it for the kids."
Down the hall from the tree in the lobby at the agency is a room that looks to be straight from the North Pole.
Special delivery: Little by little, on this evening, the local Santa Clauses who "adopted" a child from the tree in the lobby are arriving with armloads of gifts.
The floor of the room is covered in wrapped packages.
Some Santa Clauses provide for these children in a different way. The Warren Harley Owners Group had a bake sale. Some members are standing in front of the tree presenting the agency with a check for more than $2,000.
Those must have been some cookies!
"Some of the money came from a basket raffle," Donna McMonagle, a member, explains. "Local merchants donated over $1,700 worth of merchandise."
How does she get businesses to donate such amounts?
"You gotta help the kids," she tells them.
Cindy Deal, director of NOAS, is thrilled with the community response.
The kids: "Some of these children have been in foster care for 10 or more years," she shares. The tone in her voice gives away her passion for her work.
"Most of the children we work to place are special-needs children," Cindy explains. "They are called special-needs primarily because they are older or part of a sibling group."
She pulls out a notebook filled with pictures of children the agency is trying to place.
As we flip through the pictures of beautiful, smiling children, I think of the tree in the lobby.
May the NOAS tree be completely bare so 763 children may have their Christmas wishes fulfilled as they wait for their ultimate wish.
XTo become a NOAS Santa, call (330) 856-5582.
gwhite@vindy.com