NATCHEZ &8212; Ellen Saunders believes in Santa Clauses.

That&8217;s right&8212; not just one Santa Claus. No, she believes in four Santa Clauses, to be exact.

For the past 20 years, Saunders has participated in the Gift Tree program at Jefferson Street Methodist Church.

Members of the church pick a gift tag from the church&8217;s tree and then buy a gift for the person on the tag. The recipients are some of the most needy in our area.

Inevitably, there are tags that go left unfulfilled, leaving some on the list without a Christmas gift.

And each year, Saunders has had to search for someone to help purchase the items left on the tree. Over the years, she has discovered a group of anonymous donors to complete Gift Tree requests.

In the past four years that includes what Saunders calls her four hidden Santas.

&8220;When I dial them up, I say, &8216;Can I speak to Santa.&8217;&8221; Saunders said.

Four unsuspecting acquaintances have become, in Saunders mind, &8220;the spirit of the season.&8221;

At first there was great reluctance to get involved, Saunders said,

&8220;When I first talked to them (four years ago) they wanted to just right a check,&8221; Saunders said. &8220;I said, &8216;Oh no. you just can&8217;t write a check, you have to do.&8221;

And that was the spark that turned a way to complete a church project into a true Christmas gift.

&8220;They now fix and deliver 60 meals for the most needy at the Natchez Senior Citizen Center,&8221; Saunders said.

And they do it all anonymously.

Finding these four jolly helpers has served as a reminder to Saunders.

&8220;God needs helpers everywhere and you find those helpers in the strangest place,&8221; Saunders said. &8220;Many of the people who help were those that never thought about a charity.&8221;

Watching her four Santas give of themselves is one of the ways Saunders said she find the true meaning of the holiday each year.

&8220;The Gift Tree has made me realize how much one person can receive from giving to another person,&8221; Saunders said.

&8220;Truly it is the giver who gets so much more than the receiver.&8221;