COVID kills Cookie Day

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
For the first time in years, Newcastle Elementary School will not have its annual Cookie Day to raise funds for Operation Santa due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions. On Nov. 10, during the Weston County School District No. 1 board of trustees meeting, Principal Brandy Holmes explained that the team felt there was no safe way to continue the tradition. 
Historically, the school’s fourth grade class has raised the funds for Operation Santa and then shopped for the gifts. The students made cookies at school and at home to sell on Cookie Day. 
With the funds they raised, students then purchased clothing items for those in need on a shopping trip with staff and volunteers.
“We don’t feel, given the COVID-19 situation, that we can safely do the fund-raising and the shopping,” Holmes said. “That would mean taking them out in public, and we can’t.” 
On average, Operation Santa helps 45 to 50 families or roughly 95 children, Holmes told the News Letter Journal, noting that this is children birth to 18. 
“If a school-age child is in need of clothing, parents or guardians can contact me or their child’s school. We will help as much as we are able,” Holmes said. “Since we are not able to do our traditional fundraisers, our funds are limited this year.” 
Holmes assured the school board that the school should be able to cover most of the needs at the school with funds in the account from previous years. She said that the school is working out the logistics of the help. 
“If people would like to donate, they can send it to the school for Operation Santa: Kids Helping Kids. We also have had families volunteer to assist other families for Christmas. We can help coordinate this to maintain confidentiality,” Holmes continued. “If this is something they would like to do, they can contact the schools.”