Coventry State Rep is also an Elf

COVENTRY, RI—When she’s not legislating, local State Rep. Sherry Roberts is working overtime this holiday as one of Santa’s helpers.

Roberts’ alter ego is Nicholina the Elf, and all season through Christmas she’s donning her hand-made elf costume and appearing across House District 29 in Coventry and West Warwick, spreading good cheer.

The costume and performing is about the spirit of giving, too, and Roberts said that she has been coordinating several drives and collections to benefit local children.

There’s a toy drive with collection boxes at Coventry Town Hall and Dan’s Place on Victory Highway. There’s the coat collection box next to boxes for hats, mittens and gloves at The Mai Tai Restaurant on Tiogue Ave. And that’s the place to be to see Nicholina The Elf in action on Dec. 14 and 21 at 5 p.m.

Rober—Nicholina The Elf kicked off the holiday season at an event at the The Major General Nathanael Greene Homestead earlier this month where she volunteered to entertain children.

“Elves first appeared in nursery rhymes around 1850,” Roberts said. “Descendants of Nathanael Greene were still living in the home during that same period of time, so the magic of elves were likely felt then! I hoped to bring a bit of that same magic to the Nathanael Greene Christmas Eve.”

Roberts said she has agreed to perform there again next year in the hopes of making it an annual event. She also said she plans on appearing at local businesses that have historically provides strong support to the community and stepped up to the plate for charitable causes.

She cited the owners of Dan’s Place as an example, and said she plans to perform there on Dec. 16 and 20 at 5 p.m. She said the owners are “well known for contributing to great causes in large ways, I think it’s time to return some gratuity to Dan since giving is what the Christmas season is all about.”

And there’s yet another initiative. Roberts said she has planned a canned food drive at Richard’s Oil on South Main Street in Coventry on Sat., Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide for Christmas food baskets. Meanwhile, Richard’s Oil and Dial Oil have agreed to provide some oil vouchers that will be distributed to needy families before the Christmas holiday, she said.

Roberts is inviting anyone who wants to join her in embracing the true holiday spirit with a contribution of some kind to call her at 401-477-4220.