The Greater Oakland and Chuckatuck Civic League is hoping to bring some smiles to children in the area on Christmas morning.

Now in its third year, the league will host its Angel Tree Project for the first time at the Chuckatuck library. In the past, the drive has been hosted at local churches.

For the project, the local social services department receives a pool of families who request donated Christmas gifts for their children. In the first year, more than 50 kids were selected and last year about 40 were selected, according to Opal McCleod, a Greater Oakland and Chuckatuck Civic League member.

Both years, all of the kids were sponsored, McCleod said.

This year, 44 kids were selected; however, McCleod said, donations have been slim.

“We are in desperate need of gifts before next week,” she said.

Near the library entrance sits a tree with snowflakes representing the children selected by the social services department.

On the back of each snowflake are the child’s name, their clothing and shoe sizes and a wish gift. The latter is an item the child personally requests.

In the past, these gifts range from bicycles to electronics, McCleod said.

McCleod added the donated items don’t have to be brand new and can be lightly used. The gifts must also be wrapped.

The collection deadline is Dec. 14.

The gifts will be stored at the library and collected by social services. Then, the department will deliver the gifts to the parents of the selected children.

McCleod said the league doesn’t get a chance to meet the families, but they still continue with the effort regardless.

“It’s not so much, ‘Look what we’ve done,’ but for the kids to say, ‘Wow, look what I have on Christmas morning,’” she said.

For any inquires, contact McCleod at 241-1850 or d007mom@aol.com.