Brittany Kelley
DRIPPING SPRINGS — For more than 20 years, Project Elf has collected gifts to distribute to the community members of Dripping Springs and this year, the tradition continues.
According to Wendy Petersen, special projects coordinator, Project Elf is “a program where families in the local community — where their children [aged newborn to 18 years old] are zoned to Dripping Springs ISD — can register and sign up for Christmas gifts.” After families register, community members can pick up elf hats to fulfill the child’s wish, prior to it being distributed to the families.
The program is part of Dripping Springs Helping Hands, a volunteer-run nonprofit that was created in 1986 to aid community need. Most notably, it houses a food pantry, where those experiencing food poverty can visit Wednesdays and Thursdays for supplies. This food pantry is where community members can sign up for Project Elf, said Petersen, who shared that, so far, more than 20 families, with varying numbers of children, have signed up.
The form must be filled out in person, said volunteer coordinator Consuelo Davidson, and asks for names, contact information and addresses, as well as what the child’s desired gift is. Although this information is collected, the information isn’t shared publicly, Davidson emphasized.
Instead, when an elf hat is picked up, it will have an assigned number, the child’s age, gender and their Christmas wish.
These hats are found at local businesses that volunteer to host a tree.
“People were already contacting us before I had a chance to say, ‘Do you still want to host one of our elf trees at your location again this year?’ They’re already reaching out to us,” said Petersen. “It’s just so wonderful and warms your soul to see the outpouring of love and support for our local community members in need.”
Petersen explained that once a business has committed to participating, a tree will be delivered to the office, alongside the elf hats to be displayed. Then, each company can decorate it how they see fit. As community members collect the elf hats, they will also drop off the items to the same business they collected them from.
Each gift must be wrapped, with the elf hat attached to ensure that the gift is delivered to the corresponding family.
This year, Project Elf is continuing a tradition that begin last year, said Davidson, which is limiting the gifts to one per child.
“We decided to do one gift and one book, so everybody gets pretty much the same [amount] and we have a price limit [of $50],” she said. “[Previously], it got to the point that we had over 1,000 presents and it was a little overwhelming to distribute everything. So, we just went to the same parameters that other organizations have.”
This way, each child will receive one fun gift, said Petersen, and a book that the parent believes their child would enjoy. Additionally, the family can take home a board game to enjoy over the holidays.
Last year, instead of a book, coats were given. This will continue, though, said Davidson, as jackets, beanies and other warm items will be available for parents to select when they pick up their gifts Dec. 13.
If community members feel as though they cannot support a child’s gift wish, they can instead donate new coats or board games, which can be delivered to Dripping Springs Helping Hands inside The Foundry at Dripping Springs Methodist Church, located at 28900 Ranch Road 12 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Davidson explained that in the event that a child’s elf hat is not picked, the gift is provided by Dripping Springs Helping Hands. Although they won’t be left without a gift, Petersen stressed that it is important that families that pick an elf hat are committed to fulfilling the responsibility.
“We want every child to have a magical Christmas and to feel loved and supported by their community. We just want to fill in the gaps and be a blessing to the families that are deserving and just bring a little Christmas joy to their lives,” concluded Petersen.
Registration for families to sign up for Christmas gifts, as well as for businesses to host a tree, will close Oct. 30. For more information, visit bit.ly/4h0CTRX.
