If drivers in Cottage Grove journeyed down 80th street between 1pm and 3pm on Friday, January 8th, they were most likely waved down by a few high school students. Those students were welcoming them into Park High School’s student parking lot to receive a gift. In the lot, many masked teenagers were prepared to distribute that treat to them. The Journal was present to cover the inspiring actions of Park High School’s Student Council through what they cleverly titled, “Cup of Cheer”.

Upon entering the student parking lot, drivers navigated some orange cones. These lead them to a table surrounded by smiling eyes and a colorful sign attached. “STUDENT COUNCIL CUP OF CHEER,” it read. When one rolled their vehicle alongside the curb, they were greeted by a Student Council member wearing a face covering. “Thank you guys so much for stopping by,” Grace T. warmly expressed to a daughter and mother.

Then, one “Cup of Cheer” was brought to each passenger of every car, free of charge. The paper cup held a packet of Nestle Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, multiple Hershey Kisses, and a Rice Krispie Treat. Additionally, a slip of paper that read, “Suicide Prevention” was incorporated. On those sheets, links and phone numbers of organizations that assist humans through mental struggles were referenced. Prior to safely retrieving this small, yet meaningful, gift, community members continued their drive down 80th street.

The PHS Student Council approached this hot cocoa distribution with caution, as South Washington County has been infected by COVID-19. The council’s president and 12th grader, Devin Schwartz, informed The Journal on how they did so a few days before the event. Firstly, a small selection of council members entitled, “officers”, assembled the bundles on January 4th. Each component inside of them was prepackaged, including the hot chocolate. Student Council members would not actually be brewing the drink that Friday. Rather, packets of hot chocolate mix were simply incorporated into each bundle. After officers completed preparing them, the bundles were isolated for four days “helping to kill any bacteria that may have been passed on,” Scwartz defended.

During the actual distribution, the Student Council was equally as serious about preventing the spread of germs. Firstly, the customers collected one bundle each through a drive-through model and remained in their vehicles. Additional practices that the Student Council performed were previewed to The Journal by Schwartz. “All members distributing hot chocolate treat cups will be masked and socially distanced…the distribution will take place outside to help limit any possibility of spreading the virus if someone happens to be ill,” he informed.

Every single one of these practices were successful that Friday. When asked by The Journal if she felt safe, a Cottage Grove citizen named Bryce thoughtfully replied, “[The Student Council] took the fear out of it so that we could feel comfortable.”

“Cup of Cheer’’ all began with a math class assignment. High School Junior and second-year Student Council member, Brooke Ellis, called on PHS students to answer questions about COVID-19 and their mental health. Initially, Ellis created this survey simply to collect data for a paper. However, many “heartbreaking” student testimonies could not be overlooked. “I got many responses talking about how students’ mental health was suffering, how they had lost the will to get out of bed, how they needed help but they didn’t know how to achieve it, and how they missed human interaction as well as their friends,” she elaborated.

Out of a sense of obligation for the Student Council to be more involved in students’ lives, Ellis presented this analysis of her survey at a virtual meeting. She pitched to the assembly that something needed to be done to boost morale. From there, council members began brainstorming solutions that would accomplish just that. Scwartz illustrated the milestone that followed, “After we talked as the Student Council, we came up with the idea of a hot chocolate-treats-words of encouragement-drive-by event.”

There was the pandemic to consider as well. However they went about bringing smiles to students’ faces, they had to think of a way to do so, safely. The Student Council decided to cooperate with their midst, settling on a drivethrough event. “We felt that with the circumstances of everything happening right now that this would be the best and safest way to get people together with the lowest risk.” Scwartz summarized.

A drive-by hot cocoa distribution it was! Initially, the student council planned to cater exclusively to PHS students. However, “Cup of Cheer” eventually went public. “We plan to distribute it to students of all ages and the community… to spread as much cheer as possible,” Ellis told The Journal three days before the event.

The PHS Student Council is most likely content with this decision because it allowed adults such as Dwayne to drop by. “I knew I wanted to give support to these students…it gave me something to do!” the former educator exclaimed.

Further feedback from customers was recorded that Friday. For example, a PHS student by the name of Gregory arrived at “Cup of Cheer” because he understood it was a good cause. The Journal interviewed him on his thoughts surrounding the Student Council’s motives of “brighten[ing] everyone’s mood overall”. To which he responded, “I love that cause…I needed it.”

The PHS Student Council not only noted the need for a mood-boost during this period of social isolation, they organized one. Between offering resources for mental illnesses and presenting what one passenger, Bobby, described as a “homey and heart-warming” hot chocolate packet, a pack of students definitely filled Cottage Grove’s cup with cheer.