Santa Claus Visits Bush Elementary

“Ho,ho,ho!” Bush Elementary’s very mysterious Santa Claus bellowed as the school’s boys and girls of all ages lined up, hardly being able to contain themselves with excitement. For all of these students, their happiness was not only fueled by meeting Santa, but by the realization that regardless of Harvey’s trauma, and their parents’ sadly hinting that Santa may not come this year, Santa did come and brought presents!

With great holiday cheer and joy, HOPE Clinic was able to support Bush’s Santa-giving celebration in $1,000 worth of toys to hundreds of very deserving children. HOPE clinic staff cheered the little kiddos along as they grabbed their gift, smiles all around and said a very warm ‘thank you.’

The clinic has provided medical services to the Greater Houston Southwest area for years, and understands that around the holidays, and due to the community’s low socioeconomic levels, children often wake up to an empty tree. However, as it does every year for multiple schools, HOPE Clinic wanted to spread joy to the community! With a name sake like HOPE, HOPE Clinic truly puts the “joy of giving” into practice by bringing very much needed hope and joy into the lives of kids who may not receive a gift for Christmas or may have been affected by Hurricane Harvey earlier in the year.

On December 15^th, and with a short walk across the street, HOPE Clinic participated in a holiday celebration hosted by Bush Elementary. HOPE was welcomed by teachers in pajamas and even Santa’s own worker elf! On the far back wall, all they toys were neatly wrapped in snowmen and reindeer wrapping paper, organized and ready to be handed out to the kids which were bouncing up and down as they formed a very non-linear line. Minutes before Christmas Break officially started the children at Bush were called down to receive their gift from Santa Claus, singing along to Christmas tunes as off-key as they could manage, because honestly, that’s the best way to rock out to jingle bells.

Naturally, the children at Bush Elementary were simultaneously ecstatic and impatient as the day before the school winter break grew closer but not only were they getting a few very well-earned days off, they got a nice toy to take with them too.

HOPE Clinic staff said their goodbyes and thanked Bush for the opportunity to help provide that little bit of happiness to their students. As they were watching the Bush Elementary teachers dance and sing, they left satisfied in knowing, although the contribution small, at least a few more children could experience hope.