What does Santa do the other 364 days a year? If you ask Scott Sprowl, the Newport News Coast Guard veteran behind the nonprofit organization Claus Cares, the jolly old man’s mission doesn’t shift in the off-season.
Sprowl, who plays various iterations of Saint Nick year-round (Jogging Santa andBeach Santa are just some versions), believes the spirit of Christmas is all about engaging in community. Accordingly, he’s involved in a wide range of philanthropic and charitable initiatives all aimed at spreading cheer wherever, whenever and for whomever.
“I call it community betterment,” Sprowl said. “Anything we can do to help make the community better we try to do.”
It all started during the 2019 Christmas season. Sprowl’s daughter, a photographer, needed a Santa for a photo shoot. Sprowl donned a suit to play the role.
“I guess playing Santa got me into the spirit of giving,” he said.
Sprowl’s efforts began as home-based initiatives such as stuffing winter backpacks for unhoused people for another charity. He registered Claus Cares as an official nonprofit in 2021.
This month, Claus Cares will make the summer season brighter with a Christmas-in-July- themed school supply initiative. They’ll also host a ’Tis the Seasonings Food Drive to distribute condiments and flavorings to enhance more frequently donated staples like pastas and canned goods.
But Peninsula residents in need don’t have to wait for an event to find help. Sprowl also runs a boutique out of the suite of rented rooms on the second floor of Grace United Methodist Church where Claus Cares is housed.
The boutique is set up like a store with racks of clothing and displays featuring items like jewelry and pet supplies. It is not difficult to find merchandise with tags and original packaging, thanks to partnerships with companies like Petco.
“They give us tons of pet supplies,” he said. “If you’ve got a lizard, we’ve probably got something for you.”
Jonathan Sheafe, a mental health professional who works with people experiencing homelessness and unstable housing, said that Claus Cares is his go-to place to find resources for his clients at Renaissance Wellness.
Sprowl maintains an “immaculate clothing closet,” Sheafe said. “When I get some clients who are in immediate need of clothing, Claus Cares is where I take them.”
Sprowl said people do not need to financially qualify to get help.
“You may have a great job and everything is going good, but something just happened,” he said. “Maybe a vet bill came up and you can’t afford all the groceries this month. We’ve got it. We’ve got you covered.”
Claus Cares isn’t limited to meeting physical needs. After losing a shipmate to suicide last fall, Sprowl began Operation Buddy Check, a peer support group designed to “swap stories and check in with each other,” Sprowl said.
The organization gets by with donations, fundraisers, the occasional grant and a lot of Sprowl’s elbow grease and good will.
But Sprowl prefers to attribute another source: “(I) give credit to Santa,” he said.
