Families in need can select free toys for their children at Immaculate Conception School again this year. School officials expect a wide range of like-new toys to be available at the Project Elf Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 2.

BY SHERI TRUSTY

For a couple days this Christmas season, Immaculate Conception students will become Santa’s elves. For the second year in a row, Immaculate Conception School will host the Project Elf Toy Giveaway which provides, for free, like-new toys to families in need.

Students and local residents are invited to donate gently used toys which will be distributed on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon, or until the toys are gone, on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no cost for the toys. Anyone in need is welcome to pick out Christmas gifts for their children.

Jen Roberts, marketing coordinator for Immaculate Conception School, said the project started when a mom told her children that their Elf on a Shelf said it’s better to give than to receive.

“It became a tradition in her house to give toys away to get more,” Roberts said. “We thought about that. All of us have things we outgrow.”

Project Elf fits well with the school’s mission to encourage benevolence.

“The mission of our school is to teach every child in mind, body and spirit. We take seriously the responsibility to teach our students to serve others,” Roberts said.

Last year’s Project Elf Toy Giveaway was so successful that the school brought it back again.

“It was huge. We had little things like books and big things like a child’s kitchen and bikes,” Roberts said.

Project Elf accepts any like-new toys except stuffed animals. Toys can be dropped off at the school on Wednesday, Nov. 29 and Friday, Dec. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Immaculate Conception School is located at 109 W. 4th Street in Port Clinton. For more information, call 419-734-3315.