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Santa Trainees Get Lessons in 'Ho Ho Hos' Before They Raise Money for the Needy

By Leslie Albrecht | November 18, 2010 3:43pm

By Leslie Albrecht

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

UPPER WEST SIDE — Two dozen student Santas got a crash course in how to "Ho, ho, ho!" Thursday, as Volunteers of America prepped for its annual Sidewalk Santa parade.

The Nov. 26 parade will feature 50 Santas marching merrily through Manhattan to collect money to feed the needy.

The future Kris Kringles learned the proper techniques for becoming Santa at Volunteers for America's offices on West 85th Street and Riverside Drive.

"It's not as easy as it looks," warned Paul Batsel, a Santa instructor and associate director of communications at Volunteers of America.

Donning the plush red suit and snowy beard is in fact a 10-step process that must be performed in the proper order. Boots go on first because it's difficult to bend down once Santa's pillowy belly is strapped into place.

There's also a list of nine do's and don'ts for Santas.

For example, don't eat garlic or onions before you head out, or saying "Ho, ho, ho" will generate a cloud of bad breath.

"Santa doesn't smoke," Batsel told the class. "Also, texting, talking on the phone kind of spoils the Santa mystique for the kids."

Among the students was Lexie Davis, 56, a former client at one of Volunteers of America's homeless shelters. Today he's the facility manager at one of the nonprofit's shelters.

He credits the nonprofit with helping him turn his life around. "I wouldn't be here today," Davis said. "It was a lifesaver for me. The grace of God sent me there."

The nonprofit Volunteers of America runs more than 80 programs in the New York area serving the homeless, foster youth, and seniors, among others.

Davis has suited up as a Santa in the Sidewalk Santa parade for nine years. He said marching in the parade gives him a special feeling, because he knows he's helping others with the money he raises.

Near the end of the class, a little girl in a townhouse across the way spotted the room full of Santas from her living room window. She stood gaping open-mouthed at the two dozen jolly people in red suits and white beards.

"That's the best part," said Maureen Brogan, a program director at Volunteers of America who's marched in the Sidewalk Santa parade before, when she spotted the awestruck child watching.

"The children, the adults, even people who don't speak the same language as you, when they see us their eyes light up and they stare at you with that face of awe."