ESM Varsity Leaders Club- Holiday Heroes

My name is Nicole Cuomo and I am one of the Co- Advisors of the Varsity Leaders Club at ESM High School.  My colleague Rebecca Thorn and I have run this club for years at ESM, which includes 11/12th grade boys and girls Varsity Athletes.  This year, We have almost 80 members who are positive role models and devote their time and resources to helping our younger athletes as well as the entire community at ESM.

During Thanksgiving this year, our athletes donated food to a local food pantry within our community.  The VLC club donated over 13 boxes of non-perishable items to St. Peter and Paul’s Church Food Pantry in Manorville.   They were so overwhelmed with the sheer volume of our donations, and they were able to stock up for families for thanksgiving but also prepare for the rest of the Holiday Season.

This Holiday season, the Varsity Leaders Club members are also participating in Adopt-A- Family.  This year we have adopted 12 children within our community and are anonymously purchasing gifts for them for Christmas.  We divided into small groups of 6-8 members, and they all received one child and their need/want lists.   Our children range from 3-14 years in age.    Some are asking for clothes and winter apparel and others are asking for toiletries and other simple necessities.  Our members use their own money and time to work together to make a strangers Christmas morning special knowing they are receiving no recognition, except from Ms. Thorn and myself.

We are so proud of our Varsity Leaders Club Student Athletes and the amount of generosity and selflessness they give to the members of this community.  Every year they find a way to do more and be better.