Santa's Elves referrals already exceed 550

By DAN KEGLEY/Staff

This is day 17 of the 2009 edition of the Smyth County Santa’s Elves program that works to make Christmas brighter for hundreds of local children.
The program is accepting referrals of children whose families’ financial hardships mean Christmas morning holds little hope of presents to open.
As of Monday, 554 referrals were submitted to the Santa’s Elves office.
“We have been running about even with last year,” said Mary Beth Sheets who, with Heather Trivette, runs the program.
Sheets said the program will accept referrals through Dec. 4.
Sponsorships come in slowly until Thanksgiving when thoughts turn more toward Christmas, Sheets said. Each sponsor acts as Santa and is matched with a family (considering any requests by the sponsor) and given the child’s wish list, clothing sizes and toy request, sponsors add the children to the recipients on their Christmas shopping lists.
While referrals are on par with last year, Sheets is seeing effects of the economic slowdown in the Santa’s Elves program. “We have several referrals for people who have not used the program in years,” she said. “I’m talking not since 2003, 2005, 2006, and several of them have come back.”
Those returns could skyrocket the referral number by adding to the regular yearly number of applications.
And in an ironic twist indicative of the times, Sheets said one sponsor last year is a referral this year.

Last year Santa’s Elves:
● Helped 1,108 children
● Made and delivered to the elderly 875 fruit baskets
● Had the help of 160 sponsors
● Received $35,871.53 in cash donations

This year you can:
● Sponsor children
● Contribute cash
● Contribute goods
● Become an elf -- schedules are flexible

Important numbers:
● Call Santa’s Elves at 783-8148, extension 257
● Visit in the Department of Social Services, on the
4th floor of the county office building at 121 Bagley Circle, Marion.
● Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays.

Make checks payable to:
Santa’s Elves
121 Bagley Circle, Suite 200
Marion VA 24354