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Frequently Asked Questions
The following will provide you with some information about how the program works and how you can get involved.
What Is The Elves Program and Who Is Involved?
The Elves Program is a non-denominational group of volunteers that was founded to benefit children in need in Tompkins County and the surrounding area. Starting with one elementary school and a few students in 1989, The Elves now assist at least 1,000 students each year in approximately 40 area schools. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers, the program provides clothing, toys, backpacks, school supplies and warm blankets to kids who are identified by school personnel as being in the greatest need. There are absolutely no overhead costs.
Caring people from across the Cornell community and beyond are encouraged to participate. Anyone can become an Elf, individuals as well as members of families, office groups, and community organizations. To sponsor a child or make a donation contact Bill Alberta, wna1@cornell.edu or any one of our Elf Leaders. A list of leaders and their schools can be found on our website.
How Does It Work?
There are three program efforts:
Winter Holiday Program
Started in 1989 by Bill and Sherry Alberta, this is our largest program. Between October and December, nurses and social workers at area elementary schools identify the children who are in greatest need. Using Profile Sheets they provide information on each boy and girl to Elf Leaders. These leaders then distribute the profiles to individuals, families, or groups who want to sponsor a child. Sponsors (Elves) purchase items, making sure that each child receives every item on a checklist, available on our website, including socks, underwear, an outfit, pajamas, a hat & gloves, and a toy (all gifts are new). Elf Leaders deliver the bags of gifts to the school where they are picked up by parents or delivered to the homes. The anonymity of the children and their parents is always protected.
Summer Backpack Program
Initiated in 2007 by Maureen Brull after discovering that many children attend their first day of school with no backpack and few or none of the required school supplies. The Elves now provide more than 1,000 new backpacks to elementary children every summer and each contains items from our checklist, available on the website. The program gets started in June and involves an approximate $45 cost for each backpack/supplies. Contact Maureen mpb8@cornell.edu if you would like to participate.
KozyKids Blanket Bee Program
Joanna Bock started this program in 2016 after learning that one little girl asked for only a warm blanket during the previous winter holidays. The Bocks purchase and deliver at least 300 warm, fleece blankets and deliver them to our participating schools each fall. To donate, contact Joanna Bock, joanna@htva.net.