It might be strange to see people dressed up as Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, or an elf, especially late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, but that’s how a group of about 65 adults participated in this year’s SantaCon.
The Dec. 14 event helped raise $1,200 for the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. At $1 per every four meals, this fund drive ensures 4,800 meals will be provided to the food insecure in the Hudson Valley.
The money is placed in the food bank’s general fund allowing for the purchase of food from various vendors to supplement the donations that come directly to the agency.
“It’s fun; it’s different,” Jaci Balcombe, retail store donation program coordinator for the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, said of the event. “It’s nice for the adults, after the hustle and bustle of the holidays, to get together and put on a costume and not have to worry about anything. It’s a win-win for the businesses in Cornwall, as well as the food bank.”
SantaCon started in 2013 when Jaci’s husband, Evan, saw a similar event in New York City. It looked like fun and he decided to introduce it in Cornwall.
The inaugural event started as a bar crawl with five of the Balcombes’ closest friends. Dressed as Santa, the group visited three local restaurants/taverns including The Trestle, Painter’s, and The Rock Wall Pub and Grub. To participate, each person had to donate canned goods to the food bank.
In subsequent years, Jaci became more involved and started posting the event on Facebook. The group has since grown and this year included residents new to Cornwall.
Rather than carry boxes of food from each establishment, the Balcombe’s decided to make it a fund drive, charging $20 per person to participate.
Over the last few years, the itinerary has changed slightly and will likely remain the same going forward, said Jaci. This year’s bar crawl included Storm King Tavern, Rock Wall, and Shamrock Tavern.
SantaCon is planned ahead of time, so each business knows to prepare for a larger than normal group. Sometimes drink specials are offered, other times not.
The crawl started at 6:30 p.m. and about two hours were spent at each bar. If an establishment, like Rock Wall, has live music playing, an extended stay might be necessary.
The group walked from each place, with the longest trek being about 10 minutes, from Rock Wall to Shamrock Tavern, but Jaci said someone may provide a bus next year.
The next big food drive will be in the spring. Food banks in the Tri-State area will be partnering with Stop and Shop for Feeding our Families on April 4.
“Around the holidays everyone is so willing to give and hold food drives and fund drives, but in the spring, the need is always going to be there,” Jaci said. “This helps restock our shelves. Hunger is not just during the holidays. Hunger is a chronic problem that we deal with year ‘round.”
