In the News: Santa pays a visit to NHS’ Key Club

Members of Newberg High School’s Key Club received a merry surprise for a job well done Friday morning when Santa and Mrs. Claus visited them and delivered cookies and their jovial cheer.

Heath Cornick played the role of Santa, while Terry Molander stood in for his wife. The pair, who are both members of Newberg Kiwanis, were thanking the students for helping with the civic organization’s Christmas event Dec. 3 at Joyful Servant Lutheran Church.

Dubbed ‘Memories with Santa,’ the event had a goal to provide a little bit of Christmas cheer to children. “The goal is to provide Christmas for kids that wouldn’t normally have it,” Cornick said.

For $5, just enough for Kiwanis to recoup its costs after donations, children were presented with an opportunity to hear stories, send mail to Santa, and partake in crafts. Each child also went home stuffed with Mrs. Claus’ cookies and with a book in his or her hands.

“It was a little better than last year,” Molander said of the 2011 installment, as more parents attended, which made for easier logistics.

“Key Club means a lot to the Kiwanians,” Molander told the assembled teenagers shortly after the event. The club is affiliated with Kiwanis and about 18 students helped club members bring cheer to 85 to 90 kids.

Molander encouraged the students to remain engaged with Kiwanis as they go to college. “This is not a stopping point for you,” she said.

By: Laurent Bonczijk, Newberg Graphic