NATCHEZ &8212; Santa is serious business.

If he&8217;s nearby, there&8217;s no time for clowning, no need for eating and nothing but anticipation in the room.

About 50 children, mostly hurricane evacuees, dropped everything Tuesday afternoon when they heard Santa was nearing their Monmouth party room.

The children and their families all received special invitations to the party, where they ate sugary treats and received candy bags and Wal-Mart gift certificates from Santa.

Monmouth owners Lani and Ron Riches organized the event for children who had signed up for assistance with Catholic Charities.

But Madison Posey, 6, wasn&8217;t entirely convinced that Santa was the real Santa. &8220;He wasn&8217;t wearing black shoes like Santa wears,&8221; she said.

The others in the room were content to sit on the real or stand-in Santa&8217;s lap and make requests.

&8220;I want a remote-controlled car,&8221; New Orleans native Dondre Head said. &8220;I have one at home, but I want another one.&8221;

Head and his family are living in a Natchez apartment near other family.

Kyreion McKeel, 5, requested a Dora the Explorer house, she said.

Kyreion and Deborah McKeel will leave Natchez this week to spend the holidays in Metairie with other family members.

Other common gifts requested included bikes, dollhouses and cell phones, Santa said.

The gift certificates and candy the children received was funded in part by The Curtis School in Los Angeles, where the Riches&8217; grandson attends. Ten-year-old Kyle Weber is in Natchez for the holidays and attended Tuesday&8217;s party.

&8220;The first thing we did for Katrina was get a bucket in each class and collect money,&8221; he said. &8220;This is the first time I&8217;ve seen the victims, but we helped by giving money.&8221;