NATCHEZ &8212; Santa Claus came to town Friday night, but he wasn&8217;t in a sleigh drawn by reindeer. He flew to town in a helicopter.

Santa dropped in to make a special delivery to children from the Natchez Children&8217;s Home and the Sunshine Center.

About 30 children and the jolly old elf gathered on the U.S. 61 South property of John Rivera, CEO of U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp., a biofuel company that recently acquired a warehouse near the port through a holding company.

USSEC President Alex Machado made clear the event was not funded by the company, but by Rivera himself.

Santa passed out toys to the children soon after he landed.

&8220;He found out what the children wanted and bought those toys,&8221; Machado said.

Horseback rides were also available to children before Santa dropped in.

The Adams County Sheriff&8217;s Office volunteered their helicopter for the event, something they often do for charities, Adams County Supervisor S.E. &8220;Spanky&8221; Felter said.

Rivera donated $3,500 to the sheriff&8217;s office in November to be used for protective vests.

Supervisors President Darryl Grennell and Supervisor Sammy Cauthen were also in attendance.