AUBURN - They may not be real elves but that small technicality will not prevent several volunteers with the local Christmas Elf program from ensuring parents have enough gifts to fulfill their role as Santa Claus next month.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Christmas Elf volunteer Diane Currier marks a box with the number associated with a family being helped by the program.
Christmas Elf volunteer Diane Currier marks a box with the number associated with a family being helped by the program.
With little more than six weeks left until Christmas, Carolyn Moore said she and other volunteers are busy packing children's gift boxes for families that cannot afford to shop for presents this year, especially given the poor economic conditions and struggling job market.
Despite any financial concerns, Moore said the community continues to contribute to the program by donating money, toys and space for packing.
“Last year we thought contributions were going to be way down, but we ended up having a banner year,” Moore said. “We had record donations.”
A key donation this year came from Currier Plastics and the NorthStar Business Center, who gave the organization space in one of the buildings in their Wright Avenue facility to store and package gifts. The cost of utilities is also included in that donation.
Last year, the organization was given space by the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, but that location was difficult to heat and involved traveling up and down a flight of stairs, something that made traveling with boxes difficult.
A stroll through the new location reveals volunteers examining gift lists mailed in by parents, as they search row upon row of tables looking for desired toys and other appropriate items.
The goal of the Christmas Elf program is to give every child at least one big toy and three other needed items such as coloring books, crayons and other supplies, Moore said.
The program's inventory included several Batman and Spider-Man figurines waiting to leave their boxes in order to fulfill their super hero duties while Barbie and several of her friends filled an entire table as they prepared to find a new home. Legos, fleece blankets and books were also stacked upon the tables amongst hundreds of other toys.
While the toys filled most of the room, a large wall of boxes used for shipping the packages filled the remaining space.
Volunteer Diane Currier said the agency has received 150 applications so far this year, and is expecting to receive closer to 600 by the end of the holiday season.
Currier said the program's accessibility to the public has made it an intricate part of the holiday season for local families for more than 20 years.
“There isn't an outlet for families to get help like this other than their churches,” Currier said. “They could apply to Toys for Tots, but that's in Syracuse ... and that isn't an option for some families.”
Families interested in participating can apply though their children's school nurse or through a local social service provider.
For more information, call the Christmas Elf hot line at 255-6024
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Despite any financial concerns, Moore said the community continues to contribute to the program by donating money, toys and space for packing.
“Last year we thought contributions were going to be way down, but we ended up having a banner year,” Moore said. “We had record donations.”
A key donation this year came from Currier Plastics and the NorthStar Business Center, who gave the organization space in one of the buildings in their Wright Avenue facility to store and package gifts. The cost of utilities is also included in that donation.
Last year, the organization was given space by the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, but that location was difficult to heat and involved traveling up and down a flight of stairs, something that made traveling with boxes difficult.
A stroll through the new location reveals volunteers examining gift lists mailed in by parents, as they search row upon row of tables looking for desired toys and other appropriate items.
The goal of the Christmas Elf program is to give every child at least one big toy and three other needed items such as coloring books, crayons and other supplies, Moore said.
The program's inventory included several Batman and Spider-Man figurines waiting to leave their boxes in order to fulfill their super hero duties while Barbie and several of her friends filled an entire table as they prepared to find a new home. Legos, fleece blankets and books were also stacked upon the tables amongst hundreds of other toys.
While the toys filled most of the room, a large wall of boxes used for shipping the packages filled the remaining space.
Volunteer Diane Currier said the agency has received 150 applications so far this year, and is expecting to receive closer to 600 by the end of the holiday season.
Currier said the program's accessibility to the public has made it an intricate part of the holiday season for local families for more than 20 years.
“There isn't an outlet for families to get help like this other than their churches,” Currier said. “They could apply to Toys for Tots, but that's in Syracuse ... and that isn't an option for some families.”
Families interested in participating can apply though their children's school nurse or through a local social service provider.
For more information, call the Christmas Elf hot line at 255-6024
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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