The Hoquiam community rallied to provide a safe and festive drive through Santa experience, complete with gifts, for Emerson Elementary students Tuesday.

Bags, donated by Swanson’s grocery, were filled with gifts from community members. Joe Cornell’s charitable organization Making a Difference for Grays Harbor Kids donated a gift and a set of gloves for each Emerson student. Cornell and his late wife Beverly began their chartible work more than 30 years ago.

Cornell was able to purchase gifts for 1,900 students this year, including every preschool-5th grade student enrolled in the Hoquiam School District, according to Emerson teacher Kelli Pudelko. Walmart provided a jump rope for each student. Every bag also included a book donated by the Hoquiam Parent Teacher Organization. All of these gifts were individually wrapped days ahead of time to ensure safety for all.

Tuesday, staff, first responders, students, and Santa all maintained social distancing while handing out the bags of toys for each student. Teachers took shifts and the parking lot was filled with flashing lights from the visiting fire engine and ambulance.

Each bag was adorned with a special letter from Santa, asking students to do their best, log into their Zooms, and help their parents.

“We as a community have been hit so hard by this virus financially and emotionally, our staff found so much joy in being able to make an impact in a positive way,” said kindergarten teacher Jeanne Marll. “As soon as we started planning, our donors, staff, community, and first responders were ready to take on the task.”

Emerson was decorated with lights and festive inflatables. Teachers were dressed in their best elf gear, and students showed up in record numbers, said Pudelko. Hoquiam elementary staff also thanked Cornell by making a donation to his organization to continue to offer similar events in the future.

Pudelko said the event would not have been made possible without Emerson staff, Joe Cornell’s Making a Difference for Grays Harbor Kids, Hoquiam PTO, Swanson’s, Toys-for-Tots, Walmart, Hoquiam first responders, and Nic Kiser.

COURTESY PHOTO Emerson Elementary staff dressed for the occasion at Tuesday’s drive through Santa celebration. From left are Jana Bickar, Jeanne Marll, Kelly Jones, Chan Byron and Kelli Pudelko.

COURTESY PHOTO The Hoquiam elementary administrative team hands Joe Cornell a donation for his organization, Making a Difference for Grays Harbor Kids. Pictured from left are Brandon Winkelman, Cornell, Laurie Gordon, and Kent Nixon.

Kailyn Jackson and Sara Zillyette with Santa at Emerson Elementary’s drive through Santa event Tuesday. COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO Emerson Elementary staff dressed for the occasion at Tuesday’s drive through Santa celebration. From left are Jana Bickar, Jeanne Marll, Kelly Jones, Chan Byron and Kelli Pudelko.