ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont Career Center’s Sources of Strength Club and the Staying Clean Club hosted Santa for its annual Cocoa with Santa fundraising event on Thursday evening.

Event co-organizer and prevention specialist Lilli Luyster said that the annual event allows students to engage in bringing a positive culture to the school while raising money for the two clubs.

It cost $3 per child and free for all adults. The price of admission included a picture with Santa, cookies, cocoa and various games and activities such as cornhole, craft making, coloring and writing letters to Santa.

Luyster said that she is grateful for the continued support from the community with the Cocoa with Santa event as well as the Halloween event the school held this past October.

Attendee Jesse Meyers said that she’s been attending the event since its creation.

“I try to bring a herd of people, everyone from my godson to grandkids,” she said. “I work with an amazing group of individuals with developmental disabilities and bring them. I love this for them, because there’s not a lot of activities that are either free or really cheap that they can go to in the evening.”

She added last year the entire Belmont County Special Olympics cheer squad attended the event.

“It was nice they all came with their cheer shirts on and had cocoa with Santa then went to a basketball game and cheered,” Meyers said.

Luyster added that she believes the event is a good learning opportunity for the students.

“All of the students here are volunteering their time because it’s important to them,” she said. “It gives them great leadership skills and gives them community service. Plus they’re really proud of their building, and they want to show it off to people.”

She added that the money gets divided between the two clubs. The Staying Clean Club uses the money to provide incentives for club members such as free lunches. The Sources of Strength students use the money for leadership events.

“Right now, they’re doing a collection drive for the Belmont County Animal Shelter,” Luyster said. “They’re also doing what they call Fun Meal Fridays, where they’re raffling off full meal kits. And they give those away on Fridays between now and Christmas.”

Belmont Harrison Vocational School District superintendent Heather Austin said that the event is important because it provides the community the opportunity to view what the school has to offer.

“​​It’s important to let the community know what we have going on here at the Belmont Career Center,” Austin said. “We want to involve the community and make it a welcome place for young students here.”

She added that her goal is to create positive student involvement.

“The clubs that we have here are student led organizations and this evening help sponsor and enables them to do fun and exciting things,” she said.