GHHS Student Senate brings Christmas to Coopersville family
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 
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BY KYLE MORONEY
kmoroney@grandhaventribune.com
Santa, disguised as a group of Grand Haven High School students, brought Christmas to one Coopersville family a week early this year.
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Twenty-five GHHS Student Senate members, ranging from freshmen to seniors, "broke into" the family's home Friday to bring gifts for each of the family's seven children and their parents. They also adorned the home with lights, wreaths and assorted Christmas decorations.
The Grand Haven group was one of seven West Michigan high schools that brought Christmas to 13 families through Grand Rapids radio station WGRD's Holiday Break-In program, according to the radio station.
"It was a very moving experience for everyone and it was really good for the kids," said Elizabeth Gervais, a GHHS math teacher and Student Senate advisor. "To see every single kid have a present in their hand was a very amazing experience."
Gervais said the "break-in" was a complete surprise to the family. She said the parents are out of work.
The GHHS students raised money for the event with various fundraisers throughout the year. The group went shopping a couple of weeks ago and spent more than $2,400 — including $100 for each of the seven kids. They bought each child — ages 6-16 — clothes and toys from "Santa," a flat-screen TV and other surprises for the parents. The students lined the bikes and sleds they bought for the kids outside the house.
"I was a little bit sad about the condition of the house — seven kids sleeping in two bedrooms," said GHHS student Sarah Kober, 16. "But to make it look so Santa was there was a gratification that's unexplainable. It was a life-changing experience."
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"It was really cool and a lot of fun to go into their house and put presents under the tree — and see what the family is going to come home to," said GHHS student Zach Tebeau, 17. "It opened my eyes a lot to see that there's other families like this out there."
The parents of the nominated family were aware of the "break-in," but did not know to what extent, Gervais said.
"The person who nominated them said, 'Wow. They couldn't have done this for their kids,'" according to Gervais. "So that was really touching. They were definitely moved."
Trisha Nutt, a GHHS special education teacher and freshmen student advisor who also helped with the "break-in," said the students took charge of the event.
"It means a lot to know that there are students who enjoy doing things for others," she said.
The GHHS Student Senate has brought Christmas to other families in past years through various organizations, but it didn't have as much of a personal impact on the students, Nutt explained.
"This is a way to see the impact that they were making," she said.
Students and advisors alike said the event gave them a greater appreciation for what they have in their lives.
"It's such a good feeling to fill every inch under their Christmas tree," said Greg Rokisky, 18. "The feeling it has on you and how you made their Christmas is priceless."
