Velva UMC has raised $18,000-20,000 in the past nine years for various community projects. Each year the Velva United Methodist Church, with a membership 39, serves hundreds of children and families through the Elf Project.  This year there were 119 shoppers and than $2,000 was collected.

Each year, the church is filled with donations that will be selected by children as gifts to family and friends. Volunteers from the church solicit the donations from local businesses. The donations are arranged in the church basement and priced at a nominal fee.

The first weekend of December, children in the community are invited to come shopping at Velva UMC.  When the children arrive, they fill out a list of who they need gifts for. Once the list is complete, children are guided through the shopping excursion by an adult or elf.  The elf helps the child make decisions about what might be needed for various ages.

When the child is done shopping, they head to the wrapping station where all of the gifts that have been selected are wrapped and labeled.  Price is never a barrier. The children mark on their list how much money they have to spend. “They never leave without gifts, no matter how much money they bring,” said Libby Darnell, Velva UMC.

Funds raised from the Elf project are given back to the community. Velva UMC has donated to the food pantry, the school, children’s baseball program and more. One year, anyone who requested received $20. The individuals receiving the $20 were asked to pass the gift on.  A chart was made with a list of all the places people gave like, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.

“It is one of my favorite events. Seeing all the kids shopping. To be able to say, I bought it,” said Pastor Geoff Hilton, Velva UMC.

ELF Project from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.