Families enjoy holiday cheer at annual “Cougar Express” event

SANFORD, N.C. — As the sky darkened, all the players took their places. 

A trio of college administrators dressed as elves unpacked hundreds of Little Debbie snack cakes, red cartons piling up around them. Other staff members waddled past in inflatable costumes. Members of the CCCC basketball team lined up, ready to help children shoot a basket or two from the passenger seats of their parents' minivans. 

At 5:30 p.m. the cars started rolling in for Cougar Express, CCCC’s drive-thru holiday event that has become a staple kick-off to the season. 

Families, as well those young at heart, had the opportunity to drive through a series of 21 stations in the giant parking lot of the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center on Dec. 4, collecting goodies and giveaways from 75 or so CCCC volunteers, on their way to a rendezvous with Santa Claus. 

“It’s my favorite night of the year,” said Dr. Emily Hare, Executive Director the CCCC Foundation, which sponsors Cougar Express. “It gets everybody in the spirit.”

Director of Business Services Christa Mashburn, who organized this year’s event, said more than 400 children attended, based on giveaway totals. Hundreds of parents, grandparents, and other adults also took part. 

Morgan Proctor drove through with her parents and her two sons: Barrett, 3, and Macrae, almost 2. This is the family’s second year at the event. 

“We like that you can drive through and not have to get the kids out of the car in the cold, and get to see all the little things that CCCC has to offer,” she said. “And Santa.” 

Barrett loved the artificial snow pumped out at the “Frozen” themed station and the holiday Chex mix offered by the Culinary Arts department. 

As the family turned the corner in the parking lot, they proceeded through a tunnel of lights and were treated to another snowy blast. 

Near his throne, Santa waited. For each family that passed through, he stopped to chat and pose for a photo with the smiling children peeking through car windows. 

“What really matters to us is the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community,” CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said. “Whenever we have the opportunity to give back, help spread a little joy, it really helps us appreciate all the things that are so important and valuable about our community.”