Help spread holiday cheer with Liberty’s annual Christmas Elves program
JOPLIN, MISSOURI – For the 37th year, Liberty will help ensure older residents in its Southwest Missouri service area have a happy holiday season with the launch of the annual Christmas Elves program.
Liberty partners with local agencies such as the Salvation Army, nursing homes, and assisted-living centers to identify residents who are age 65 or older and will be celebrating the holidays alone. Participants provide basic information about themselves and what they’d like for Christmas. Then Liberty opens it up to its employees and the public to help fulfill their holiday wish lists.
“The program has changed over the years,” says Jordan Bolinger, Senior Manager for Key Accounts, who has served as the program’s “Chief Elf” for several years. “When it first started, a local trucking company would do a toy drive and then bring the gifts here for our employees to wrap. Then it turned into partnering with local agencies to help those who would be celebrating the holidays alone. It’s a beloved program for our employees and our customers.”
Once the wish lists have been gathered, a table is set up in the lobby of Liberty’s main Joplin, Missouri, office. The public is invited to pick up a list and then shop for one of the local seniors.
Debra Gaskill, a caseworker for the Jasper/Newton County chapter of the Salvation Army, says the Christmas Elves program is something the older adults look forward to each year.
“We work with two senior housing agencies,” she says. “They don’t have family around and don’t get a lot of visitors. They’re on a fixed income and a lot of them have a disability, so this program is a huge thing for them.
“Some of them ask for things that are a daily need – toilet paper, trash bags, paper towels. Some ask for things they enjoy doing, like art supplies or word-search books. It’s not extravagant at all. Once Liberty has gathered the gifts, we work with the activities directors to deliver them.”
To become a Christmas Elf, simply visit the Liberty office at 602 S. Joplin Ave. to select a name of one of our elderly neighbors, and help fill all or part of their wish list. Wrapped gifts should be returned to the office by Tuesday, Dec. 12, for delivery to the recipients.
Those who may not have time to do the shopping but wish to contribute can donate by visiting the Elf Desk at the Joplin office at 602. S Joplin Ave. or mail donation funds to: ATTN: Christmas Elf, P.O. Box 127, Joplin, MO 64802.