We first organized this volunteer initiative for Christmas 2000 and it has continued to grow each year thanks to the support of several hundred volunteer elves.
Volunteer elves include military and civilian members of the Department of National Defence, along with spouses, children, and friends. In 2002, word spread and several folks from outside the Department joined our team. In this effort, the more the merrier, because there is always room for another elf.
The first year we collected 225 gifts for 175 seniors in eight homes in the Ottawa-Hull area. In the second year, the numbers doubled, and in 2002 we really got going, collecting approximately 750 gifts for 541 seniors in 18 different homes in the area. Click on the pile of gifts to see who gets gifts.
In 2003, we reached more than 1150 seniors and in 2004 our numbers topped 1400 seniors in eastern Ontario and Quebec. This web site helps us reach out to even more people who are alone at Christmas time. Click here for more info on how we organize the gift collection.
If you, your club or your office would like to become part of our group of volunteer elves, or if you know of a seniors' home that could use our help, please send us an email by clicking here. We hope to hear from you.
