When I walked into the 15th annual “Cocoa with the Clauses,” my ears were eminently flooded by live Christmas carols, warm smiles surrounding me, and jolly old Saint Nick sitting in his chair with Ms. Claus across the room. “Cocoa with the Clauses” is an event where locals came to get their face painted, make ornaments, and have hot chocolate with Santa.
The event, organized by ELHS club Peers Reaching Out (PRO), raises money for kids who need financial assistance to participate in some ELHS activities, such as Homecoming and junior and senior prom.
“As a kid, I always went to Cocoa with the Clauses,” senior Nicole Ibrahim said.
She was one of the many PRO members volunteering, doing things such as face painting, tattooing, and handing out hot chocolate in an effort to bring Christmas cheer to the children who came.
“This is one of our events where everyone wants to be there and not there because they have to,” Lisa Belisle, ELHS assistant principal said.
Some students who were not in PRO helped out as well, such as senior Cameron D’Ettore who sang holiday classics.
“When the wrestling bus drove by cheering for Santa, it warmed my heart that the Christmas spirit isn’t dead. Kids looking up at you and pulling your beard, so excited to see you,” Santa Claus said.
