NATCHEZ &045;&045; Thomas Perry was front and center Friday morning, ready and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive at the Braden School auditorium.

Charlotte Perry said her son, Thomas, 6, was up early anticipating his meeting with St. Nick during the annual Children’s Christmas Tree Fund toy distribution.

Toys for the fund are paid for with money donated throughout the holidays. The fund was founded in 1904 by then-Democrat publisher James Lambert and is now run by Katherine Killelea.

By 11:30 a.m., Thomas and many of the children in the auditorium were squirming in their seats, turning around at the slightest noise that might signal Santa’s arrival.

Santa &045;&045; who had been touring Natchez with the Santa Claus Committee for his annual Christmas Eve parade &045;&045; was a little bit late to his annual gathering with Natchez children, but no one seemed to mind.

&uot;Hey, Santa!&uot; Thomas waved from his front-row seat, holding up a camera to record the moment.

One by one, the children were called up to meet Santa, who sat on the stage surrounded by past Santas from the Santa Claus Committee.

Some were too bashful even to say hello; some walked by with a quick wave before heading to the toys. Others paused for a big hug from Santa before receiving their bags, and Kendrus Jones even sat down beside former Santa Richard Durkin as if to have a chat.

Catholic Charities provides the names of most of the children who receive toys and gifts every year.

And Killelea has a lot of elves who help her with the donations and the distribution of toys.

This year, the Shriners donated a huge load of toys to the fund &045;&045; the first time Killelea said she has received such a donation from the group. Kelly’s Kids gives clothing every year, and monetary donations come from throughout the community.

Ann Carlton and her sister Jeannie Ballew have been helping out for the past several years. Their grandfather, Dorris Ballew, was Santa in 1961.

&uot;He was always involved with it,&uot; said Carlton, who said she and her sister had always wanted to take part.

&uot;It’s just a good way of contributing,&uot; Carlton said.

Several Trinity Episcopal School students were on hand Friday morning to help distribute toys. Killelea said she enjoys having young people help out.

&uot;I know all of them will end up giving,&uot; she said.