Children are now available for adoption through Project Christmas Cheer Angel Trees at four county churches.

Individuals, businesses or organizations can adopt children or families by visiting one of the angel tree locations: Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church in Atlantic Beach, One Harbor Church in Morehead City, One Harbor Church in Beaufort and Smyrna Pentecostal Holiness Church. They can also call 252-247-7275.

Meanwhile, applications for Project Christmas Cheer assistance are being accepted at First United Methodist Church in Morehead City.

Applications will be taken 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Spanish translators will be available each Monday.

The application period will end Friday, Dec. 2.

Project Christmas Cheer is a not-for-profit organization that provides Christmas assistance to needy children and adults.

Through the program, adults receive food from churches, organizations and The Salvation Army in Morehead City. Children receive gifts by people adopting their names from Angel Trees set up at county churches.

Vicki Daniels, PCC coordinator, said in an email Wednesday that during the first two weeks of the application period they received 148 applications for Christmas assistance.  The applications included 231 children (0 – 18 years of age), 153 adults (19-64 years of age), and 64 seniors (65 years of age and older).

Persons or families applying for Christmas Cheer assistance will need to have the following documents to ensure their eligibility for assistance:

•A photo ID.

•Social Security cards for everyone in the house.

•A contact telephone number.

•Proof of income of any household members working outside the home.

•School name and grade of each child in the household.

•Clothing sizes for the children.

•Children’s needs for Christmas.

•Proof of rent (copy of lease or other proof of payment).

•Electric and water bills (or letter from person paying these bills).

•If receiving food stamps, the EBT card and amount of food stamps.

As the applications are processed and approved, the children’s names and “wish lists” are distributed to the Angel Trees located at participating churches.

Following is a list of participating churches, dates and times that angel trees are open:

•Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church, 201 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach: 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and noon-3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. Last day to adopt angels is Sunday, Dec. 11. Phone: 252-726-7465.

•One Harbor Church, 1605 Fisher St., Morehead City: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 8:30-9 a.m., 10:15-11 a.m., and noon-12:30 p.m., Sundays. Last day to adopt angels is Sunday, Dec. 11. Phone: 252-422-2899.

•One Harbor Church, 214 Turner St., Beaufort: 8:30-9 a.m., 10:15-11 a.m. and noon-12:30 p.m., Sundays. Last day to adopt angels is Sunday, Dec. 11. No phone number given.

•Smyrna Pentecostal Holiness Church, 85 Highway 70, Smyrna: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and noon-1 p.m., Sundays. Last day to adopt angels is Saturday, Dec. 10. Phone: 252-528-0038.

Other individuals, churches, businesses and civic organizations also can contact the Christmas Cheer office to select children, families and other adults to provide food and gifts at Christmas.

In addition, First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City will host a luncheon and entertainment for those 65 years of age or older in December.

Bud Daniels, one of the PCC organizers, encouraged residents to get involved this year.

During the 2015 Christmas season, 516 families in Carteret County were assisted through Project Christmas Cheer.  There were 965 children adopted and provided gifts.

Those interested in making donations to PCC can mail them to Project Christmas Cheer, P.O. Box 1914, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.

For more information, call 252-247-7275.