Operation Santa’s Elves

Yes, we just got through Halloween and are still chowing down the remnants left behind from that holiday.  And we have yet to get through Thanksgiving; will it be turkey or ham!  But the Holidays are approaching and as we think about how we can help make the Christmas Holidays special for those in need, especially children, we have to bring up the “H” word now.

Operation Santa’s Elves is a national campaign sponsored by Woodmen of the World and/or Assured Life Association to help bring the joy of Christmas and Santa to the lives of needy children right in our own neighborhoods.  These economic times have created more need among families unable to provide their children with Christmas gifts than ever before; enter, Operation Santa’s Elves! 

The Committee of Fraternal Affairs and Woodmen/Assured Life invite you to participate in Operation Santa’s Elves by seeking out a local organization or program that assists in providing Christmas gifts to kids that would not otherwise receive anything for Christmas.  Regardless of the program or its name, we want to count it towards Operation Santa’s Elves. 

For many members and camps/lodges, these are projects that we do every year.  However, when we compile them into one nationwide report, the impact that we make as a Society becomes larger than life and can be shared by all of us.   It becomes more than just one individual’s or camp’s/lodge’s act of kindness.  We are taken beyond ourselves and our community to other cities and states. 

Take the national fall food drive for example.  What Jenny and I did seems very small when looked at individually; our neighborhood drive resulted in only 37 pounds of food collected.  But when included in our national efforts, our 37 pounds of food grew to 741 pounds.  Not to mention the food provided by monetary donations!  It really is true; every little bit helps.  So, please help us with Operation Santa’s Elves and let’s see what we can accomplish together.

Online Resources – Click on the Logos

“Although SantaSearch and Operation SantaSearch do not supply gifts directly, we do try to put you in contact with agencies that can assist you.”

“The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.”

Operation Christmas Child began in the United States in 1993 with 28,000 shoe box gifts.  Since that time, more than 69 million shoe box gifts have been hand-delivered to needy children in more than 130 countries.   Fill a shoe box with personal gifts, school supplies, candy, necessity items, family photos and notes of encouragement and drop them off at a location near you.  Here is how to pack a shoe box.  Find the nearest drop-off location here.

The Adopt-A-Family (AAF) program matches impoverished families with individual or group sponsors to provide for their tangible needs at Christmas. Without the benefit of an adoption, these families would be looking forward to a very grim holiday. Being adopted is designed to be a once or, on very rare occasions, twice in a lifetime event for recipient families.

Reporting Operation Santa’s Elves Projects

Whatever you do, Report The Results of Your Event or Activity!  Even on an individual member basis.  We want to hear about it.  Let’s share how we got involved!  You can even share by posting a comment to this Blog.  We have two ways you can report:

1. Download a Paper Report Here
2. Report Online

So, please help us network on ideas and projects.  The resources posted in this Blog are by no means the only projects out there that qualify for Woodmen/Assured Life’s Operation Santa’s Elves.  Post a comment about organizations that you know of in your area and let’s work together to bring Christmas and Santa into the lives of those kids and their families that are hurting right now.

From All of Us at Woodmen of the World and/or Assured Life Association

Happy Holidays!!