25,189-piece Santa collection sets Guinness record

Video: Grab a pencil and a beard! It’s Santa school

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   >>> every winter thousands of volunteers dress as santa claus to collect donations for the homeless and hungry.

   >> you can't just throw on a red velvet outfit and shout ho ho ho . they have to learn the trade somewhere.

   >> volunteers of america have been training sap santa 's helpers for more than a century. i got a crash course in all things santa at their santa school. it takes more than a belly and a beard to be santa claus . at the volunteers of america headquarters here in new york, class is in session.

   >> first of all, let's clear one thing up. there's just one santa . he's not here, he's at the north pole .

   >> reporter: in santa class, you train to be one of santa 's helpers. we had to get into costume to get into character. we work from the bottom-up starting with the pants and boot covers.

   >> if your shoes are three-inch heels, maybe you should re-consider your footwear.

   >> reporter: lesson two, you can't be santa without a little pad to the midsection. i feel like a kangaroo. i already feel jollier. we'd just be a fat guy in boots without that trademark red robe.

   >> i can't see over my belly. lesson three, you have to give the kids something to tug on.

   >> we have boxes of beards. take it out, shake it out.

   >> reporter: it is the first time i'm dressing like a man -- since halloween.

   >> do you know what we have to go through to go to the bathroom?

   >> oh, gosh. we have to get out of this thing?

   >> reporter: costumes and wigs in place, we definitely look the part but something is missing which brings us to the most important lesson.

   >> the laugh is a good way to let them know you're a good guy or gal. when you laugh, you jiggle.

   >> reporter: because these santa 's helpers collect donations, we perfect our bell-ringing technique.

   >> and cut!

   >> reporter: and go through the dos and don'ts.

   >> santa does not smoke. there's nothing more unsightly than crumbs in your beard.

   >> reporter: to make it official, there is a pledge.

   >> reporter: as sidewalk santa , this i pledge. and we receive diplomas.

   >> sara haines.

   >> thank you!

   >> congratulations, ladies and gentlemen . you are now official volunteers of america sidewalk santas. ho ho ho !

   >> is this like graduation? do we move it over? school's out but the holiday cheer is just beginning. so far, these santas helpers have raised $70,000 for homeless and hungry families.

   >> we got a whole bunch of volunteers from the volunteers of america and rachel winestein is here, the group's leader.

   >> thank you for having us here.

   >> we see these guys with the bells ringing.

   >> some women.

   >> where does the money go?

   >> the money goes to our holiday food voucher program. we're sending food vouchers to thousands of people who are hungry this season.

   >> more people are ever before this season.

   >> we may have raised $70,000, but we need to raise a lot more.

   >> you guys did really well. do you have the laugh down? we didn't do the thing, what about this part?

   >> laugh outloud. ho ho ho ho ho !

   >> thank you.

   >>> if you'd like to make a donation to the volunteers of america , go to klgandhoda.com.

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