NEWBURYPORT — With only 12 shopping weekends to go before Christmas, the Recreation and Youth Services Department is looking for a few good elves to make some local spirits bright.
Formerly known as Newburyport Youth Services, Port Rec has begun receiving gifts for its annual Family to Family holiday program. For over a decade, Port Rec has partnered with YWCA Greater Newburyport to administer the volunteer program which serves families with children under 18 who live either in Newburyport or in nearby YWCA housing.
“This has been a really wonderful partnership between us and the YWCA for many years,” Port Rec Director Andrea Egmont said. “It really allows us to connect our two missions.”
Each year, Port Rec reaches out to families struggling financially and has them complete a holiday wish list. That list is then matched with donors known as “elves” who go to work finding something for each family member.
Egmont said she expects to serve roughly 200 families in Newburyport and Salisbury this holiday season.
The Family to Family holiday program also collects and delivers over 400 stockings to elderly residents. Volunteer elves can choose to fulfill a family’s wishlist on their own, or join in with others to get the job done.
“We will work with people with whatever they can do to help,” Egmont said. “They should let us know their preference when they make a decision to sponsor a family.”
Sharon Kennedy and her family have been elves for the past four years. The Kennedys worked to fulfill another family’s entire wishlist during their first Christmas season with the program, then helped to fill some stockings the next three.
As one of six kids herself, Kennedy said she knows how families can struggle during the holidays.
“Having our own kids, it’s really important for them to learn how to be there for other community members. Because community members have sometimes been there for us,” she said. “I’m really proud of our city to have Port Rec in the first place and for them to have this program, where people can come together to support others.”
While there’s no deadline to become a holiday elf, Egmont is asking people who want to be matched with a family to sign up by Nov. 10.
“That way they can receive their matches before Thanksgiving,” she said.
Elves will drop off their gifts this year between Dec. 11 and 14.
Egmont said Port Rec will also be accepting gift cards for groceries, restaurants as well as family activities.
“We’re looking for gift cards for places like Walmart, Marshalls, Market Basket, Dunkin’, local restaurants, ice skating, bowling, you name it,” she said.
Egmont also praised the work of Port Rec supports coordinator Trish Boateng who said she works tirelessly to make sure the holiday program serves everyone who needs it.
“This is a great program. But it takes a lot of energy,” she said. “Trish puts in so many hours to work with these families and make sure we understand their needs, as well as wishes. She has been really phenomenal at doing all of that.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or who would like to know more about the Family to Family program can go to: www.cityofnewburyport.com/recreation-and-youth-services/pages/family-to-family-holiday-program.