This is the ninth in a series of stories highlighting charitable giving and the agencies in need in the Miss-Lou.

NATCHEZ —For Joe Mitchell shopping for the Natchez Children’s Home is much like shopping for any other home in the Miss-Lou.

Toothpaste, dishwashing detergent, soap and of course toilet paper, are always high on the list.

One reason for the resemblance according to Mitchell, director of development at Natchez Children’s Home, is simple.

“We’re just running a big house,” Mitchell said.

But for the children that call it home, the Natchez Children’s Home is more that just a roof over their heads. It is a safe haven.

“We are their family so we just try to normalize (life) as much as possible for them,” Mitchell said. “Every day they are going to know that they are safe, and that it is OK to be mad because we aren’t going to stop loving them if they get mad.”

The Natchez Children’s Home is the oldest continually operating group home in the United States. Its doors have been open since 1816.

The home is a residential group home for children who have been removed from their own homes. They also offer a counseling center, preschool and day treatment for local children. Children’s Home employees organize the local foster care program.

Mitchell said the back-bone of the home is the residential group care.

“Our mission is to provide a safe, stable and healing environment for children of families in crisis,” he said.

But a large number of supplies are needed to make that happen each day. And because the home is privately funded the struggle is even greater.

“When people ask what we need, my list is going to be things like toothpaste, detergent, mops, money for the electric bill,” Mitchell said. “We have the same kind of expenses here that you do at home. We just have a lot more of them.

“And because we don’t seek or accept federal funding we depend on the generosity of people.”

But physical supplies aren’t the only things needed. Mitchell said monetary donations go a long way in helping keep the doors open.

“Your electric bill comes at some point each month, and you have to turn around and send Entergy or whoever a check. We do, too,” Mitchell said. “When we get food shipments delivered here to feed the children, they want their check, and we have to send it.”

The agency has several fundraisers each year to help raise money to cover operation cost.

One of their largest fundraisers is a Christmas pecan sale, which is going on now. Variety packs of pecans in a multitude of flavors are for sale through Natchez Children’s Home.

Mitchell said the fundraiser has been a mainstay for the agency for many years because of its popularity.

“We have a lot of people who do their gift shopping right here with us,” he said. “They can just call and leave a credit card number and we will ship nationwide.”

Pecan orders can be placed by calling Natchez Children’s Home at 601-442-6858.

Mitchell was excited that, despite a poor economic situation, pecan orders were ahead of last year’s pace.

But, Mitchell said it isn’t difficult for him to get excited about his job.

“There is a 3-year-old that comes to see me every day and we say the colors on the color wheel. I can’t wait to get there,” Mitchell said. “It is very satisfying to know that the use of my abilities is making a long-term investment in the lives of these children.”