WAYNESBORO – A group of volunteer “elves” will continue a decades-long tradition in 2025 to “fulfill happiness for area families to ensure they won’t miss out on some of the holiday fun.
“Members of the Rotary Club of Waynesboro and other volunteers shop for children from their wish lists,” said Tracy Holliday, project lead for the organization’s Toys for Children project. The club partners annually with Waynesboro Community and Human Services, and this year 185 children up to age 12 will each receive two to three gifts, she said.
The project began under the leadership of the late Larry Corley, initially reconditioning donated used toys, according to Holliday, a Rotarian who has been head of the project since 2019. “Eventually the decision was made to purchase new toys. My first experience with the project was in 2018 with Rotary’s Essex Exchange student Angee Todorovich from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Then they asked me to be the project lead.”
Holliday is quick to credit the many hands who assist with the project. “Beta Sigma Phi Sorority continues to play a big role, helping to organize the gift list, coordinate shopping and sort toys in our satellite workshop at Hurley’s Auction Center in Zullinger. (Sorority member) Linda Bennett creates an entire spreadsheet. She’s a huge hero and does an incredible job.”
Over the years, the group has been joined by numerous other community partners that include the Salvation Army, United Methodist Men and St. Andrew Catholic Church.
The group will shop at Walmart in Waynesboro Dec. 7 “and they facilitate the process by letting us commandeer a checkout station.
“Gifts – as many as 500 to 1,000 – will be wrapped in the following weeks by a cheerful team of volunteers – Rotarians and their family members, spouses and children, Waynesboro Area Senior High School Future Business Leaders of America/Interact and National Honor Society students and the WASHS Cheer Team,” she added.
“It’s really fun to see the variety of wrapping styles and to support all of the people who are wrapping with tips and tricks. Some of the most humorous packages have included an unboxed fully extended fishing pole. It looked just like a fishing pole. We have a terrible but hilarious time wrapping Squishmallows. And you can learn how to wrap a football,” Holliday said.
Different crews – last year there were about 75 volunteers – shop, wrap and help with distribution day. “It’s a fun and festive time to spend time with fellow Rotarians and community members,” Holliday said.
Toys will be distributed to families at the auction center Dec. 20. “The Mummert Family delivers the toys purchased to Hurley’s,” she added.
The project is funded by Rotary Club of Waynesboro PA Foundation, which is supported by Rotary’s largest annual fundraiser, Battle of the Minds, held in September, and other donations from Rotarians, according to Holliday. “We share the proceeds 50/50 with a different non-profit organization each year, and this year each group received more than $11,000.”
