{"id":25857,"date":"2019-12-09T08:59:33","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T13:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=25857"},"modified":"2019-12-09T08:59:35","modified_gmt":"2019-12-09T13:59:35","slug":"operation-phoenixville-elves-hold-annual-wrapping-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=25857","title":{"rendered":"Operation Phoenixville Elves hold annual wrapping party"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Volunteers for Operation Phoenixville Elves wrap gifts Sunday at the Great American Pub.<\/p><\/div>\n

PHOENIXVILLE \u2014 A hearty group of “Elves” gathered Sunday at the Great American Pub to wrap gifts and spread a little bit of the holiday season cheer to local families in need.<\/p>\n

After starting in 2014 with just about about 12 families, Operation Phoenixville Elves is now working to help more than 250 needy families in the greater Phoenixville community this year — helping out with everything from gifts to special holiday meal supplies.<\/p>\n

According to Lisa Longo, the former Phoenixville Board of Education President, who has helped to shepherd the organization since it started in 2014, the entire effort started with an inquiry to help. a single family in the Phoenixville area in need amd has grown every year, partnering with various local businesses and civic leaders.<\/p>\n

On the organization’s Website (www.opelves.com), Longo explains the history of the Elves:<\/p>\n

“Operation Phoenixville Elves started in 2014 with a single phone call,” Longo notes. “I received a call from a dear friend, Rosa Davila, asking me if I knew any way to help a family that didn\u2019t have enough money to provide their children with gifts for Christmas.\u00a0 I knew my friends and colleagues would want to help.\u00a0 A few calls, a post on Facebook, some emails to my network and we were on our way.\u00a0 It was fun and unlike anything we had done before.\u00a0 I asked the mom of these children for letters to Santa.\u00a0 We talked about what they liked to do, their favorite colors, and hobbies.\u00a0 We also talked about what they needed, not just what they wanted.<\/p>\n

“Word of our endeavors spread and that first year we helped 6 or 7 families and provided gifts for 12 children.\u00a0 We were also fortunate to have Christmas hams and turkeys donated by Uncle B\u2019s BBQ Shack for 3 of our families.<\/p>\n

“In 2015, the expansion was tremendous.We provided toys, games, art supplies, books, science kits, food, diapers, clothing, and yes, elf magic.\u00a0 Every family submits a wish list.\u00a0 The list may be for basic necessities.\u00a0 The parents might say \u201cWe need shoes, socks, clothes, diapers, food.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need toys.\u201d\u00a0 And every time I would tell them that we are going to help you with what you need, but we are also going to get you some elf magic.<\/p>\n

“The elves also grew from the two women Santa\u2019s Workshop in my living room to a community of volunteers and support.\u00a0 Stable 12 Brewery provided storage space, a drop off location, and a place to host our Community Wrap Parties.\u00a0 The Head Elves came into existence to keep things organized, and they are a force to be reckoned with. Their organizational skills made our enormous growth possible.”<\/p>\n

Although the organization is not a 501(c)3 \u2014 which means donations to it are not tax deductible \u2014 every dollar of donations goes directly to those in need. Longo notes that the organization is hoping to be brought in under the umbrella of a larger 501(c)3 organization to make future donations tax deductible.<\/p>\n

The organization offers these suggestions to folks who would like to help:<\/p>\n

* Contributions can be made either via PayPal<\/strong> (link at right) or at our bank, Royal Bank America\u00a0<\/strong>located at 124 Main Street, Phoenixville, PA. More details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

* You may also help by becoming an elf and either donating a specific item from our\u00a0wish list<\/a> or by donating all items for a child or even a whole family. \u00a0 We also gladly accept donations of Christmas stockings, Christmas wrapping paper, unused gift boxes, tissue paper, bows, tape, and gift labels. \u00a0Drop off\u00a0 at ( To be determined)\u00a0or bring to a Wrap Party<\/a><\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Form your own Elf Group! This is a really fun way to join in with family, friends, and colleagues to spread holiday cheer.\u00a0 We have plenty of families who need your help.\u00a0 You can create a fundraiser, donate the money collected, and the Elves will gladly do the shopping for you.\u00a0 Or you can pick a child\/family and be Santa too!\u00a0Click here for list of Children\/Families.<\/a><\/p>\n

*\u00a0Participate in our Community Wrap Parties<\/a>! This is one of the most special things we do.\u00a0 We understand that not everyone is in a position to donate money or wish list items.\u00a0 Your most valuable gift, your time, is greatly needed as well.\u00a0 Spending the day wrapping the many gifts that are purchased and donated is an amazing experience.\u00a0 In 2015, our Community Wrap Parties were amazing and truly captured the holiday joy.\u00a0 The participants had fun, made new friends, and further forged a sense of community that has stayed with us long after the last present was delivered.\u00a0 Get more information on these wrapping parties here.<\/a><\/p>\n

If you know of, or are a family who could use assistance this Christmas season, please submit a completely confidential <\/strong>request for help here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PHOENIXVILLE \u2014 A hearty group of “Elves” gathered Sunday at the Great American Pub to wrap gifts and spread a little bit of the holiday season cheer to local families in need. After starting in 2014 with just about about 12 families, Operation Phoenixville Elves is now working to help more than 250 needy families […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3912,9397,4440,9396,118],"class_list":["post-25857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-featured","tag-helping","tag-holidays","tag-operation-phoenixville-elves","tag-volunteers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25857"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25858,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25857\/revisions\/25858"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}