Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 18, 1993 TAG: 9312230005
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Organizers had planned to provide toys for about 200 children, but found the demand was much larger than they had anticipated.
``I think this year, a lot of people have been hit hard,'' said Lori Spanjers, who is heading the community effort to make sure Santa Claus shows up in even the poorest households .
For folks like the mother of three who had been living at the Women's Resource Center and is receiving city assistance, The Elf Shelf has been a source of cheer during a time of economic and domestic crisis. ``I`ve been on the verge of tears,'' the woman said. ``We're very happy.'' She found a Trolls toy for one youngster and a hair dryer for another.
``It's so hard to decide,'' said another shopper, a mother of two who was browsing among the stuffed animals, action figures, Barbie dolls, racers and other new toys. A last-minute estimate of families expected to participate came up almost double the original projection and caught Spanjers and her Santa's helpers off guard Thursday, The Elf Shelf's inaugural day. The store continues through today.
But as customers continued to arrive Friday, so did contributions of toys. Spanjers and her co-workers hardly had time to worry as they restocked the tables at the School Administration Building auditorium in Radford as fast as patrons emptied them.
For the three days, Elf Shelf volunteers recast an otherwise drab room into a bright and festive holiday shop, complete with Christmas decorations and seasonal songs. In the past, toys were handed out in the lobby of the city's Welfare Department.
``Things have a way of working out,'' Spanjers said. ``Radford's a nice city. That's how we're hoping to make it through. We're hoping word will spread.''
It did, and Santa Claus wore many disguises. He came as Erv Stauss of Simmons Cable TV, who delivered an estimated $1,000 worth of new toys and games Thursday afternoon and came back with more the next day. He showed up as a Radford University student, who dropped by another batch from the Intrafraternity Council. Santa also appeared as DAZTech Screenprinting, which donated 200 custom-designed sweatshirts. He was also present in the shape of dozens of helpful volunteers.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve`s Toys for Tots brought 270 toys, which were gone by Thursday afternoon.
But the Elf Shelf's prime benefactor has been The Empty Stocking Fund - a Rotary Club fund-raising project that has given thousands of dollars each year to the city Welfare and Social Services Department to buy gifts, toys and food for disadvantaged families. As part of a cooperative arrangement, The Empty Stocking Fund assumed the toy distribution effort this Christmas, although the funds still will come through the Welfare and Social Services Department. The department also determines a list of eligible families.
``We're an independent group, but we work very closely with the Empty Stocking Fund,'' Spanjers said of the partnership.
First Baptist Church Pastor Kent Taylor and a group of parishioners brought the idea for a free Christmas toy store back to Radford after visiting a similar operation in inner-city Baltimore. Taylor helped turn the vision into reality.
Thora Jervey of the Radford Woman's Club came up with the name, and her group has contributed toys and labor. The program operates under the umbrella of New River Community Action, so it enjoys nonprofit, tax-exempt status, Spanjers said.
From the seed of an idea, The Elf Shelf has blossomed into a broad based community program that now involves at least 0 churches, a dozen or so business and community groups and campus organizations, and dozens of individuals.
As store traffic slowed Thursday, Spanjers and the other volunteers dawdled a few moments to play with some of the toys they were unpacking and marking.
``That's half the fun,'' Spanjers exclaimed. Nearby, a young mother of two chose a doll and a toy truck. Patrons may pick items worth up to 25 points per child. Colored stickers on each toy represent its relative value.
Spanjers' biggest concern this year is having enough toys for all age groups. ``We tried to target the working poor, but we may have missed the younger group,'' she said. Vouchers good at retail stores are available for those who can't find an appropriate toy. But most were able to find something to brighten Christmas Day in one of the city's less-fortunate households.
``We haven't had to turn anyone away,'' she said. As of Friday afternoon, 260 families had been served.
A mother of four who is underemployed and struggling echoed everyone's sentiments: ``This is wonderful,'' she said.
by CNB