The English Club had its December meeting at the First Christian Church with Avonelle and Nancy Williams serving as hostesses. The centerpieces on each table included Christmas candles.
Members voted to donate to the Adult New Readers program in memory of Lois Hackney. Mittens, caps and socks for small children were collected for the WIC program at the Health Department.
Avonelle introduced Randy Riley, who told us about his association with Santa Claus.
Randy grew up in Germantown and had the usual Christmas traditions, including Santa. When he was a respiratory therapist at Clinton Memorial Hospital he began his time serving as “Santa’s helper.”
When he put on the Santa suit, he felt like the real one – he was stooped over and his voice deepened. His visits branched out to homes of CMH employees.
One special memory was a time at the Infirmary when he and Mrs. Santa brought joy to a woman who hadn’t been responding to anyone else.
More recently, he has been at Holmes Elementary for Breakfast with Santa. Randy has finally retired and just dons the suit for his grandchildren.
English Club doesn’t meet during January and February. The hostesses for March are Judy Sargent and Kitty Werner.
Members in attendance were Donna Barnhart, Nancy Bernard, Sharon Breckel, Joan Burge, Beverly Drapalik, Susan Henry, Anne Lynch, Sue Miars, Barbara Ostermeier, Joyce Peters, Judy Sargent, Jean Singleton, Helen Starkey, Jane Walker, Kitty Werner, Avonelle Williams and Nancy Williams.
