Making Christmas brighter for families

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

The holidays were made brighter Thursday for more than 60 area families thanks to volunteers, donors, and mysterious elves.

Once a year, people come together to make holiday magic for families facing financial or other struggles.

Marion Community Christmas provides gifts, feast ingredients, and holiday cheer to families in any kind of need, whether it’s insufficient money or a family facing a crisis.

Community enrichment director Margo Yates coordinates the annual event.

Volunteers, called “elves,” packed boxes of gifts with rolls of wrapping paper and boxes of food for Christmas dinner.

“Some get food and gifts; some get food,” Yates said. “Sometimes we are aware of a family who’s having financial or other issues. The elves will make deliveries to those families.”

New helpers this year not only made the work lighter but were fun to work with, Yates said.

“We tried this year to spread the work out,” she said.

Eight people did most of the preparatory work and city employees helped with distribution day and deliveries.

City employees particularly enjoy helping the community effort, Yates said.

Gift items come from direct donations, Marion County Toy Run, and St. John Nepomucene Church in Pilsen.

“We can’t do what we do without their help,” she said. “It takes a lot of people to make it come together.”

Yates said food used in the meal boxes was purchased, not donated.