Clovers, Cops and Christmas: A Huge success

Space at the C-Bar-C Expo Center was very well-utilized Saturday at the Cloverdale Community Christmas party. Areas for buffets, concession stands, eateries and Santa Claus can be seen here, which were adjacent to a large play-area for the kids. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

CLOVERDALE -- More than 1,500 people and 600 children were served during the inaugural Clovers, Cops and Christmas event Saturday in the form of food, gifts and Christmas spirit at the Cloverdale C-Bar-C Expo Center.

A toy drive, dinner and family activities were in abundance as folks from all over the county came for a visit.

Families who came to the center were able to chose two toys, a book, two stocking stuffers, a hat, a pair of gloves and a stuffed animal for each child.

Cloverdale Fire Chief Mike Clark and Cloverdale student Mariah Huge played integral roles in the process, essentially raising it from the ground up. Huge said 2015 is officially the first year the toy drive has taken place in association with the Cloverdale Police Department.

A myriad of bicycles were available for children Saturday at the Cloverdale Community Christmas party, through which more than 600 children received presents ranging from books to bicycles and beyond. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

"(Cloverdale) has done a toy drive for about 15 years, and last year the (Cloverdale) police department started having a dinner and a toy drive," Clark said. "This year, Huge contacted me about combining the two."

"This is the first time we've ever had it (at the Expo Center)," Huge said. "We had different donation boxes set up throughout the community for people to put new or gently-used toys, and we also had donations both for toys and money to buy toys."

Huge, who is a senior at Cloverdale High School, spearheaded the event as not only a member of the community, but part of the Cloverdale FFA.

In fact, Huge said multiple FFA programs and other organizations were involved with preparations Saturday.

Toys weren't the only item on visitors' wish-lists Saturday at the Cloverdale Community Christmas party. Books, as well as hats and gloves, were also available. In all, more than 600 children received Christmas presents Saturday. Cloverdale students-turn-elves Marcus Priest (left) and Gunnar Fuetter (right) were on hand to assist the children. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

"There have been various kids every night this week to help," Huge said. "I think we have about 80 kids and a lot of other people helping tonight ... from South Putnam FFA, Cloverdale FFA, Cloverdale Student Council, District 7 Officer Team, South Putnam Middle School and the Lions Club (who provided the buffet)."

Clark also cited several organizations taking part in the preparations.

"All of these (other) people are community volunteers," Clark said. "The Lions Club jumped in, the Boy Scouts jumped in -- when we got ready to round the elves up and bring them in, we had the Cloverdale Police Department, the Owen County Sherriff's Department, the Roachdale Police Department, the Gosport Police Department, the Cloverdale Fire Department and Putnam County Operation Life helping out."

Though the process was admitedly daunting, Huge said she and the other students involved have received as much as they have given.

"It's just crazy how much community support we've had through this whole thing," Huge added. "When I came to (Clark) about this, he was like 'It's going to be big. Do you understand how big this is?' But with all the community support I feel it's gone extremely smoothly."

FFA Adviser Callie Edie, who may have had the most chaotic job of all, was also on hand Saturday, ensuring that the parents had ample time to browse through the concealed toy drive, which was cleverly placed behind a blue canvas adjacent to the play area.

The Clark and Huge duo hope to make this an annual event and, with a continued abundance of support from the community, they feel that dream will be realized.

For more information about the community party, visit the Clovers, Cops and Christmas or Cloverdale Hometown Charm Facebook pages.

Perhaps the most popular station of all Saturday belonged to Santa as children were able to drop off their wishes and remain distracted while parents picked out their presents. Aubrey Towers was one such child as Officer Lindsay Martin helps fill the role of Santa's elves.

To see more of the Christmas party, visit the photo gallery on the Banner Graphic website at http://www.bannergraphic.com/gallery/cloverdalechristmas.