elfing it...

how we will spend our spare time until the 1st of the month...

today we went up to the Columbian Building and washed off the tables...

sorted what toys we do have...

we used to have several programs in town...

all giving out gifts a couple of days before Christmas...

but the names on the Angel Tree weren't always far to siblings...

and you never knew what your child was getting or if they already had it or not...

so, I prayed about this and thought long and hard on how I would want it to be if I were in their shoes...

so for everyone involved, it has to be fun...

and for it to be fun, you have to let everyone do what they like to do...

donations are easy...

we take money...

and toys, brand new toys that do not need batteries...

so, you are allowed to buy whatever you want in whatever age group you want...

from a box of crayons to a bicycle...

its up to you...

us goofy elves then take it all and sort it out...

we have 3 sections...

high priced, medium and low...

then the parents get to come and pick out 2 toys from each section...

because the parents are the ones who know what the child likes and what they already have...

cuz its just not fun getting things you already got...

or getting a toy for the wrong age or sex...

we have shopper elves that take the parents around helps them shop for each child...

handing toys off to wrapper elves to gift wrap and name tag each gift...

we even have elves who carry out the items...

and we also deliver...

you have to live in our district and the child must live with you...

if you need help, all you have to do is come in...

this is not a hand out by any means...

its a hand up...

the city lets us use the community building for free...

the newspaper prints all our news for free...

the businesses allow us to put donation cans and boxes in...

and our school helps us out, too...

it takes everyone of us in these 4 little towns to make this work...

together, we make sure no child wakes to nothing under the tree on Christmas morning...

we never get to see the faces of the children on Christmas morning...

but we know they are there...

and we get plenty of hugs from the parents...

there are tears, relief and the most wonderful feeling you can ever feel this side of Heaven when you hug each and every one of them...

its up to each and every one of us to make a difference...

so, how are you elfing it this season?