The American Sign Language (ASL) club is hosting the annual holiday party on Dec. 6 in the BHS gym.

For the last twelve years, the club has invited the Cleveland deaf community to come together and celebrate the holidays.

“We plan for the holiday party in the fall,” senior Hanna Escott said. “We go out to get donations from local businesses and raise money.”

In previous years, the event has attracted local celebrities as well as hundreds of adults and children from the local deaf community.

“Every year, it’s wonderful to see the kids’ reactions and happiness,” senior Cameron Umpleby said. “It gets better and better.”

This year’s theme is pajamas and cereal; volunteers will be dressed in pajamas and cereal will be served.

Students also run fundraisers during the year to help raise money for the party.  One of the biggest fundraisers is selling “I love you” chocolate suckers for $2 each.

They also hold fundraisers at local restaurants, where a certain percentage of the profits go to ASL and helps with the holiday party. In previous years, these fundraisers were held at Chipotle and Choolaah.

Students also approach local businesses for holiday party donations. Most of the prizes, food and decorations are donated from business such as Chick fil A, Chipotle, Yours Truly, Giant Eagle and many others.

Students in the club are divided into committees for the holiday party including committees for prizes, food, security and entertainment committees.

While students spend the fall planning for the holiday party, they are active all year long.

The goal of the club is to bring together deaf and hard of hearing people with the hearing community.

There are about 80 students in ASL club. Everyone who takes ASL is in the club, but there are also some students not in the class who are in the club.

Many students enjoy ASL because it breaks down communication barriers.  Students who have taken the course are able to communicate with the deaf community and make friends with new people.

“My favorite moment from ASL is when my signing skills became pretty good, and then I was able to communicate with other deaf students, I would say that is the best part about the whole class,” Escott said.

The memories students have from ASL and helping the deaf community leads them to have a great passion for helping others.

“I would describe ASL as awesome, and everyone in the class is so passionate about giving back to the deaf community,” Escott said.

ASL club meets every Thursday. However, many students come in other days throughout the week to prepare for the party.  They also go after school to the mall, Legacy and other local places to ask for donations to help with the party.

“ASL works to improve the communication between the hearing and deaf community and in doing so, brings great leadership, service and great pride to the students in the club,” Umpleby said.