Early this week, the Verona High School Student Council was concerned that its annual gift drive wouldn’t get enough gifts to brighten the holidays for two Newark elementary schools. But the Verona community stepped up, and VHS collected gifts for not only the Hawkins Street School and Salomé Ureña Elementary School, but also the Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School, the Camden Street School and the Peshine Avenue School.
Student Council elves worked mightily on Wednesday to pack up all the gifts, which had to be tagged and bagged for each of the schools’ many classrooms. Then they donned Santa suits and holiday costumes and headed to Newark to begin the distribution. From the smiles on the photos that were taken, it’s not clear who enjoyed the day more, the VHS students or the gift recipients in Newark. The Student Council toy drive has been a VHS tradition for almost 20 years.
“I am so proud to be part of a school with such wonderful people,” VHS Principal Joshua Cogdill said on Twitter last night. “Thank you to everyone who made spreading the gift of joy a possibility this holiday season!”
