KidsPeace, a 121-year-old crisis

charity that helps more than 100 foster children in Georgia, has teamed

up with the Ruby Tuesday restaurant in Fayetteville to create an Angel

Tree, a special Christmas tree on which hang not shiny ornaments, but

100 paper angels on slender threads, each listing three hopes and wishes

from a foster child who cannot be with his or her real family during the

holidays.

These are children who need

more just than a loving home. They have suffered through terrible traumas

and crises that have led to such worrisome threats as severe depression

and even suicidal wishes, requiring careful, special care.

Most of the children, living

primarily in the Fayetteville, Columbus and Griffin areas, have wishes

that any girl or boy might have (a toy truck, a baby doll, a bike), as

well as heartbreaking requests unlikely to be fulfilled by any generous

soul among us: "I wish I could see my family again."

"Children need love and

little tokens of affection all year round," said KidsPeace Family

Resource Specialist Nicole Barone, who spearheaded the Angel Tree effort,

"but the holidays can be especially hard for these kids. We need

people to step in and show these children that someone cares. These children's

hopes are hanging figuratively as well as literally by a thread, and they

need to know someone is thinking of them."

"We're just happy

we can do something in our own small way to bring a smile or two back

to the faces of kids who may not have had much to smile about in a while,"

said Fayetteville Ruby Tuesday General Manager Richard Clarke. "This

is about the best Christmas present anyone can give this year and I know

the good people of Georgia will consider helping a child in need. Especially

these kids."

The paper angels were made

and decorated by the KidsPeace children. Each angel, representing a child,

will include the little boy or girl's age, clothing sizes, favorite

colors and, most important, three wishes. Donors are encouraged to pick

an angel from the tree, sponsor that child, and provide a gift (unwrapped,

please) to the restaurant before Dec. 15. The Angel Tree will stay up

until Dec. 15.

For those who cannot come to

the restaurant or who wish to support the children in a different way,

donations can be made by visiting www.kidspeace.org or calling toll-free

1-800-25-PEACE, ext. 7906. Just specify the program you're interested

in supporting and make a child's life a little brighter.

The Angel Tree can be visited

at Ruby Tuesday, 1404 Ga. Highway 85 North in Fayetteville.

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