Organizers of Project Elf believe every child deserves a Christmas. The Christmas Box International has run the program for nearly 30 years, providing Christmas gifts to children and young adults in Utah’s foster care program. 

The Christmas Box International Executive Director, Celeste Edmunds, understands the importance of the holiday because she was once part of the state’s foster system. 

“When you’re in the system, like I was, you are constantly given borrowed or used items,” Edmunds said. “You never get your own new things, and there’s no way to have your own sense of dignity. 

“So for us, it’s about dignity and respect and helping kids understand that they have the same worth as any other child. Their circumstances look different, what they’re navigating looks different, but there’s no difference in the ability to have the right to be respected and loved any differently than any other child.”

Donations to Project ELF help thousands of children, teens and young adults in Utah’s foster care system enjoy new presents on Christmas morning. (Photo courtesy of Celeste Edmunds)

Project Elf asks donors to provide holiday presents and gift cards or make a financial donation to ensure children in foster care receive new clothes and toys for Christmas. Edmunds said it’s a way to remind children what childhood is supposed to look like. 

The greatest request for Project Elf is $25 Walmart gift cards, which are given to teens in the program so they can purchase their own personal items. All donated gifts should be new and unwrapped so parents working with the Division of Child and Family Services can have the experience of wrapping gifts themselves. 

“For the kiddos that come into the shelter, we will identify them as needing Christmas no matter where they are,” Edmunds said. “So they’re either in the shelter, and then we wrap all our gifts to give to them at Christmas, or they’re going to be placed somewhere, and we send the gifts to the family, so the family can wrap them and celebrate in the way that their family celebrates.”

Each year, The Christmas Box International serves 14,000 children and young adults, providing an emergency shelter for children escaping abuse and teens transitioning out of the foster care system.

Edmunds said programs like Project Elf remind these children and teens that the community is here for them and wants them to feel loved. 

“There’s a way for everybody to be involved that works for them. There’s a need, obviously, and the need is to give 3,000 children and young adults a Christmas,” she said. “There are individuals, corporations, church groups, neighborhoods and families who are willing to help. With Project Elf, there’s a way for them to give that makes sense.”

Donations for Project Elf will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 19, at the Christmas Box Donation Center at 1415 S. 700 West in Salt Lake City, or through Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the two Christmas Box House locations: 3660 S. West Temple in Salt Lake City and 950 E. 12th Street in Ogden.

Those who would like to organize a Project Elf Donation Drive can also find information at Thechristmasbox.org/project-elf, along with gift ideas, the Amazon Project Elf Wishlist and Venmo information.