39 Years of Christmas Magic in Dripping Springs

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For nearly four decades, Project Elf has helped fulfill Christmas wishes for local families who need a little extra magic during the holiday season. Families apply to the program and share a "wish list" for each child. Local community members then adopt children from the many Project Elf trees displayed throughout Dripping Springs. All gifts are then distributed to parents on a dedicated date, when we’ll help make Christmas dreams come true for so many of our local families.​​

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HOW TO GET INVOLVED

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APPLY: 

Registration for Project Elf 2025 is now closed. Families may visit the Helping Hands food pantry in early October 2026 to register for next year. Eligibility Requirements below.

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ADOPT: 

Project Elf trees are currently available in the community mid-November through December 5.

Note:

• New items only

• Each gift should be wrapped and labeled with coordinating “elf hat” information to help our volunteers with distribution (this applies to gifts that are purchased off elf hat from a community tree... if purchases a general gift, please see "Donate" below for instructions)

• Please return all gifts to any drop-off location by Thursday, December 5 or at the North Pole collection (details below)

 

North Pole Collection Drop-off
(in-person donations)

The Foundry Building

Dripping Springs Methodist Church

28900 Ranch Rd 12

Dripping Springs, TX 78620

 

Drop-off times only:

December 8th – 11th

9am–2pm

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DONATE: 

Our Project Elf Amazon store is now closed for the season to allow for shipping time and so our Project Elf team can prepare for distribution day. Thank you for the incredible generosity you’ve already shown — it truly makes the magic happen. If you’d still like to be part of the giving, we’re gratefully accepting donations through PayPal or Venmo, and we always welcome diapers of any size, brand, or even opened packages (we repackage all diapers into set quantities). Diapers are always needed for our youngest clients and use them throughout the year, so your support continues to make a difference well beyond the holidays.  Diapers can be dropped off at the pantry in the outside bin, or please contact Helping Hands if you want to have them safely directly delivered from a retailer of your choice.

(Sizes most in demand: 4, 5, 6).

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PROJECT COORDINATORS

Wendy Petersen
whp2101@gmail.com

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Consuelo Davidson (English & Spanish)
512-461-4754
consuelo.davidson@gmail.com

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ELIGIBILITY

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All participating children must have been pre-registered

through Helping Hands

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We serve families that have children 18 and younger

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Please only apply for your own household

and children listed on the application must reside in your household

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All children must reside within Dripping Springs School district* to be eligible

*DSISD attendance zone - click HERE to confirm your residency

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In order to assist the most children in our community equitably,

we ask that recipients only register for assistance with one community agency

within Dripping Springs

(Helping Hands, St. Martin De Porres, Tiger Santa, etc)

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ABOUT PROJECT ELF

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For those unfamiliar, PROJECT ELF is a community wide effort that works to provide holiday gifts to those children within the Dripping Springs School District to help make their holiday more magical!

 

How does a business, organization or school get involved?

As a community, we look to our partners to join us in this project to provide children gifts by committing to taking a small holiday tree – adorned with “hats." The number of hats provided is strictly up to the individual business/organization. These elf hats have specific gift requests by our clients. 

 

When can I expect to get my tree?

A Helping Hands volunteer will drop off your tree with your assigned elf hats between in early November.

 

What if the elf hats don’t get taken?

We will be checking in with each area business who is participating. However, feel free to contact the our coordinators at any time (information below) if you have questions or concerns.

 

How and When do the gifts get back to Helping Hands?

Each organization will deliver their collected gifts to the North Pole (Helping Hands) during their assigned window of time. Please contact us if you need us to pick gifts up.

 

Do gifts need to be wrapped?

Please wrap any gift that comes from a child's wish list on an elf hat. However, gifts that are purchased as general Project Elf donations for the parent “store” should not be wrapped so each parent can visually see and choose a second gift that best fits their child &/or family.

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