Hamilton High School freshman, sophomore and junior football players spread Christmas spirit Dec. 8 by sharing cookies and songs with residents at the Brookdale Senior Living Center in Sussex.
More than 35 football players gathered at the home of Chris Botsford, Woodside Elementary School fitness education teacher and a coach for the Hamilton Chargers football team. They decorated more than five dozen cookies that they shared with Brookdale residents. They then sang Christmas carols at Brookdale and in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“Although the pitch and tone of our voices may not have been perfect, the giving hearts of our young student athletes grew many times that evening,” said Jay Bergemann, Templeton Middle School art teacher and a Chargers’ football coach.
Bergemann said reaction from the residents and community members proved that the football players’ goal to bring goodwill and joy to the community was successful.
“The beaming smiles, hugs and well wishes given certainly confirmed it,” Bergemann said.
Baking cookies and Christmas caroling is a part of celebrating the holidays for the Hamilton football players who have carried out the tradition for 11 years.
