Project Elf
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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PROJECT ELF DISTRIBUTION
Saturday, December 13th
10am - 2pm
Dripping Springs Methodist Church
The Foundry Building
(Pre-registration required)
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HOW TO GET INVOLVED
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:
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New items only
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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)
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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:
If you’d prefer not to shop in person, you can still make a huge impact and support Project Elf through our dedicated donation link or shop our Amazon Gift List. In addition to the main gifts adopted by the community with the paper Elf Hats, Helping Hands sets up a parent shopping “store” so each parent can choose a second gift that best fits their child &/or family.
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Note:
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New, unwrapped gifts for ages newborn–18, including: games, toys, book sets, coats, clothing, art kits, and general gift items
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All gifts should remain unwrapped
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We gladly accept similar items from any retailer (Amazon Wish List provided for convenience)
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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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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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