The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
COOKIES & COCOA TIME WITH SANTA
Free event helps bring families together
A Lorain man’s quest to make sure children in the community have a merry Christmas brought families together Dec. 22.
Families packed into the Knights of St. John, 1620 Kansas Road in Lorain, where they were treated to Cookies & Cocoa with Santa.
The free event was organized by Ricky Smith, who said he got the idea because his own family often runs into troubles this time of the year.
“Honestly, I’ve got kids, so I’ve been sitting around the house,” he said. “I always think about it around this time. For the last few years, well more than a few, it’s always rough for me.
“So I said, ‘you know what? If I can’t make it right for my kids this year, I’m just going to make something for everybody where they can just have a good time and get out of the house,’ ” he said.
The event featured the eponymous cookies and cocoa as well as holidaythemed activities and gifts. Students who received honor or merit roll on their report cards were
“We just want to have a little bit of fun. We’ve had a heck of a year, so we’re trying to get out and enjoy ourselves.” —Detania Jackson of Lorain
entered for a grand prize. Also, Santa Claus himself made an appearance, taking pictures with children, checking their naughty to nice quotient and listening to everyone’s Christmas wishes.
Smith wasn’t alone in putting the event together; he also reached out to local businesses to help sponsor the event.
“A lot of businesses profit off the community,” he said. “If you don’t give back to the community, then why are you profiting? You’ve got to give back to the community.”
The theme of the night seemed to be family, as the circular tables around the room filled with children and parents who were laughing and enjoying themselves while eating lollipops and coloring.
Detania Jackson, 34, of Lorain, was sitting at one of the tables with her sons, Javon, 8, and Kylen, 5.
She said this year has been particularly hard for her family.
“We just want to have a little bit of fun,” she said. “We’ve had a heck of a year, so we’re trying to get out and enjoy ourselves.”
Jackson said the family’s Eighth Street home caught fire on Nov. 14.
“We lost everything,” she said. “So, we’re kind of picking up the pieces, but it’s been OK so far.”
Javon said he was excited to see the real Santa Claus, as he’d already seen a fake one this year.
He wanted to ask the Holly Jolly Fatman for a hoverboard.
Despite the dangers of the boards, Javon said he likes to live dangerously.
“My friend has one and I ride hers,” he said.
Kylen was less talkative than his brother, but echoed his excitement to meet Santa and his love of danger.
He intended to ask the Jolly Ol’ Elf for an electric scooter.
Javon and Kylen seemed reluctant to say whether they have been good this year, but Jackson spoke up on their behalf.
“For the most part,” she said while smiling at her boys.