The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Students help spread Christmas cheer
Kids enjoy holiday gifts, cookies, talent show
CROMWELL — More than 60 students, members of the high school’s Student Council, helped to brighten the holiday season for needy residents Wednesday.
And in doing so, they brought honor to themselves, their families, and to the school, which hosted the event.
The Student Council works throughout the year to collect the money necessary to buy toys for residents who might not otherwise be able to give gifts to their children. This year, the Santa’s workshop program provided support for some 45 families and a total of 92 children, according to Marcia P. Sacco, program assistant for the Youth Service Bureau, which co-sponsors the event with the high school.
This is the 20th year Sacco has participated in the event, which she describes as a “positive youth development program” that benefits the students and the town through community service efforts. It’s a requirement that Cromwell students amass a certain number of hours — 20 each year — spent in service to the community.
The members of the Student Council must spend an additional 14 hours each year in community service, according to Beth Sarnacki, longtime adviser to the council.
One of the main events the council relies upon to raise the funds is an annual talent show, which this year raised $1,500. As in recent years, the students were helped by an expanding base of businesses who donate either goods or money to help the council meets its goal.
It’s the responsibility of council members to go out and solicit that support from the community, Sarnacki said.
That has an added advantage for the students, high school Principal Fran DiFiore said. “There’s a lot of networking that goes on right here in Cromwell.”
“A lot of different companies, some 20 plus, gave us donations,” Sarnacki said.
A total of some $1,300 went to purchasing the gifts Santa Claus handed out to awestruck children, Sarnacki said.
The talent show is presently open to just students. Jess Faucette, co-chairman, along with Jeffrey Garner, of the workshop, said consideration is being given to expanding the program to allow teachers to participate as well. Held in the high school cafeteria, the holiday event is a full-on celebration that includes pizzas, water and other healthy drinks, and an
abundance of fresh-baked cookies.
One room off the cafeteria is set aside as “the cookie factory.” “Every family leaves here with two plates of cookies” to help extend the holiday spirit, Sacco said.
The holiday event involves more than just eating or gift-giving, however, DiFiore said. “There are a series of stations” that include face painting, coloring, balloon-animals and other participatory events, DiFiore said. “We’re increasing the number of stations each year,” she added, in response to request from the families and suggestions from students.
DiFiore makes another significant contribution to the work of the Student Council, Sarnacki said. She sets aside time each week to meet with the council president to discuss ongoing or upcoming events.
DiFore says she is constantly
interrupting this year’s president, Jenna Liseo, to mark down upcoming events on her calendar.
“They help organize me,” she said.
But, just, or perhaps, even more importantly, Sarnacki suggested, is DiFiore’s commitment to meet with Liseo on a one-on-one basis.
Wednesday’s workshop was the second one Melissa Herrera has attended with her two daughters and son.
“They love it. They have so much fun,” Herrera said as her children unwrapped their presents. “They got to make ornaments and they love the balloon animals,” provided by “Noodles” (Nancy Whitehead). “And they got their faces painted,” she said.
“This makes the holiday more special for them,” Herrera said.
Her first visit to the workshop came last year.
“We had just moved to Cromwell from Meriden, where they never did anything like this. I feel Cromwell really does more. They go above and beyond with activities and programs like this,” Herrera said.
Just a few minutes past 8 p.m., the last families were leaving the cafeteria and the Student Council members were swarming over the room, stacking chairs and picking up stray scraps of paper off the floor.
“I’ve got to give credit to the Student Council,” Sacco said. “They were here at 2:30 setting up, and now here they are cleaning up so the custodians don’t have to. They’ll have everything spotless so you never know there was a party in here.”