This holiday season, Stone Soup is helping give gifts to families in need, but we can't do it by ourselves! We need lots of elves to help us wrap, organize, and hand out presents. Flexible volunteering hours, including some nights, are available.
What is the Community Elves Holiday Help Program?
This program is set up to benefit families in need over the holidays. We are working with Oltman Middle School, Pullman Elementary, and Newport Elementary to identify those families who are in the greatest need. Caring people from across our community and beyond are encouraged to participate. Anyone can become an Elf, individuals as well as members of families, office groups, and community organizations.
How Does It Work?
The program starts November 24th and gifts are distributed during the Winter Wonderland Drive Thru event at Stone Soup Thrift Shop on Friday, December 18th. We are working with Oltman Middle School, Pullman Elementary, and Newport Elementary to identify the families who are in the greatest need. Those families are notified of the opportunity and are encouraged to submit their information on each family member via an online form. Staff at Stone Soup Thrift Shop will then distribute the profiles to individuals, families, or groups who want to sponsor a family. Sponsors purchase items, making sure that each family member receives an item on their list (up to a $25 value), wrap the items, and drop off the gifts at Stone Soup Thrift Shop before Friday, December 18th, 2020. The anonymity of the children and their parents is always protected.
How do I get involved?
There are many ways to volunteer for this program:
1. You can volunteer to wrap, purchase, or hand out gifts the day of our Holiday drive through.
2. You can sponsor a family. This would include purchasing and wrapping gifts for a family that is assigned to you. Stone Soup Thrift Shop staff would work with you by supplying the shopping list of each family member. All wrapped gifts would need to be dropped off at Stone Soup Thrift Shop the week of December 14th for distribution on Friday, December 18th. If you are interested in being a sponsor please visit our website and fill out the appropriate form: https://www.stonesoupthriftshop.org/
3. If you know of a family in these communities that are in need, please have them visit our website and fill out our simple form https://www.stonesoupthriftshop.org/
4. You can donate dollars to the program and our volunteer Elves can do the shopping and wrapping for you. Any amount helps! Send a check, made payable to "Stone Soup Thrift Shop” to 950 3rd St S #101, St Paul Park, MN 55071. In the memo field enter “Community Elves."
