NATCHEZ — Amy Roach shed tears Saturday as she watched her children receive toys at this year’s Natchez Children’s Christmas Tree Fund toy distribution.

The single mother, her 11-year-old son Sean and 9-year-old daughter Skylar are prime examples of the event’s significance to local families, who gathered at the Braden School Auditorium Saturday afternoon.

Amy Roach said after recently going through a separation, she and her children were left homeless for six months.

On Saturday, the culmination of emotions over those months poured out from the mother.

“This is a blessing,” she said. “We’ve just worked really hard to make this the best Christmas ever.”

Skylar chimed in without hesitation.

“And it is the best Christmas ever,” the 9-year-old exclaimed.

Approximately 175 children and guardians — including the Roaches — waited eagerly for the arrival of Santa Claus and the rest of the Santa Claus Committee to arrive with the gifts.

The group arrived to applause. Many small children, such as 3-year-old Jade Washington, ran up and threw their arms around the Christmas icon.

Afterward, children were called up to the stage in different age groups, and a procession of gift-giving began.

Many responded with more hugs for Santa and members of the Santa Clause Committee.

Sean Roach said he was grateful for all his gifts, but he picked out his favorite out of the large, brown paper sack without needing much thought.

“Probably the football,” he said. “My old one busted.”

And Sean wanted others to share in his joy this season.

“I just wish everybody a Merry Christmas!”

Nearby, Rana Payne and her daughter, 10-year-old Naomi, were also milling through a bag of goodies.

Naomi’s favorite item in her back would make any English teacher proud.

“My journal,” she said holding up a golden-glittered book. While she looks forward to writing in it, the 10-year-old is already aspiring to be one of Natchez’s finest litigators.

“She wants to be a lawyer,” Rana Payne said proudly. “Ever since she was even 1 year old, she’s wanted to be a lawyer. She makes all A’s in school.”

Rana Payne is an example of someone who had been to the Christmas Tree Fund many times before.

“We like it. They did a good job,” she said.

But others were newcomers, such as Bryan Wilson Sr. and his 1-year-old son Bryson Wilson.

“It’s important,” he said. “You’ve got to get the kids some gifts.”

Wilson Sr. was with his fiancé, Tvette Grant, and their other son, 3-year-old Bryan Wilson Jr., whom had both been to last year’s event.

“It’s nice — they did a good job,” Wilson Sr. said.

Jordan Chapman, the older brother of little Jade Washington who was so excited to see Santa earlier, beamed with excitement when he held up his edition of the classic board game Clue. The 12-year-old said he had been waiting for this day “a whole year” and showed maturity and appreciation when reflecting on his gifts.

“These are some of the gifts I never thought I’d get,” Chapman said.

The boy’s mother, Kathy Chapman, said she appreciated the efforts of everyone who put on the Christmas Tree Fund this year.

“The kids are very happy,” she said with a laugh. “We are just very thankful.”

Children’s Christmas Tree Fund Organizer Johnny Junkin, great-great grandson of the man who started the fund in 1900, former publisher of The Natchez Democrat James W. Lambert, said the event never gets old.

“I’ve been doing this all my life,” Junkin said.

Junkin said more than 20 volunteers, many who were family members, worked to make the fund possible this year.

“It’s a good thing. It makes you feel good,” Junkin said.

Though the event usually takes place on Christmas Eve, children got their gifts one day earlier this year to avoid holding the event on a Sunday.