Dozens of volunteer elves have joined forces with a Geelong charity to make Christmas a little brighter for around 500 local youths.
Elf Squad is a fully voluntary Australian Christmas charity based in Geelong and aims to provide Christmas gifts to disadvantaged kids each year.
Elf Squad founder Stephanie Beitzel said more than 20,000 gifts are being prepared and will be distributed to around 500 youngsters this Christmas. The recipients range from newborns to 21 years of age.
“We wrap every single individual item,” she said.
“This is our sixth year helping the community. Each kid gets a sackful of around four gifts, not just one item.”
Elf Squad’s usual wrapping centre was flooded this year, but Energy Australia stepped in and provided the group with a pop-up factory.
Ms Beitzel said the charity prefers to take a back seat after the gifts have been distributed.
“We don’t have the names of the kids as privacy is really important,” she said.
“We hope the kids are none the wiser that they are receiving gifts from a charitable source.”
Members of the public are being asked to release their inner elf and donate gifts.
“We need donations to come in thick and fast now,” Ms Beitzel said.
“There are plenty of ways people can drop off new toys and vouchers are welcome.
We really need people to do a physical toy donation and also cash donations if they’d like to leave the shopping up to the elves.”
Collection centres abound throughout Greater Geelong. Community Care Chemists, Salon7 Hair & Beauty and Hayeswinckle Real Estate have five locations each.
Go to Elf Squad’s Facebook page for more information.
