My upper lip is covered in paper cuts from licking 50 envelopes for gift cards, and I’m breaking out into a full sweat as I continue to wrap 40 more toys, trying desperately to finish before my ride to the airport gets to my house. The rest of City Hall is dark and I turn up my music and wonder how I got myself into this mess.
When I put “Elf on the Shelf” on the October Agenda, the SHEDCO Board thought I had lost my mind. They had never heard of this Christmas tradition which every season infiltrates homes across the county. As the story goes, an “elf” (in the form of a doll) comes down from the North Pole to watch kids for Santa making sure they behave, hiding in different places around the house during the night for the kids to find each morning. I proposed that we ask businesses to sponsor an elf and create a special card for kids to use as they looked for them. Once kids found them all, they could turn in their card filled with a sticker from each place and get a prize. The idea was quickly approved and this seemingly simple project got on its feet.
From what volunteers had told me before, we never really had much of a response to city events. Not too many people turned up but they were nice things for the community. I didn’t expect any different. I followed all the usual protocol for advertising: Facebook, newsletter, press releases, but I also got approval from the St. Helens’s school district to have the scavenger hunt cards distributed in all the k-5 classrooms at the local elementary schools – that’s just under 2,000 cards.
Smooth Sailing and Nail-biting Stress
The entire project constantly teetered between smooth sailing and nail-biting stress. We got 20 locations in town to participate. Great! The elves we ordered might not show up on time. Not great; but thankfully they did! Every day I saw families walking around town together looking for elves. Fantastic! By the second week of the four, businesses let me know that they had finished the pack of 200 stickers I had originally given them. What? I panicked. We only had 39 prizes to start, and midway through we were nearly wiped out.
I began scrambling, asking local businesses to donate to the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt, and asking the Board to allocate more money to buy and pick up prizes. To my surprise, everyone I asked came through and some in spades, even if at the last minute. We got it done! Regardless of how messy it may have been behind the scenes, everything came together. The event was a smash with the participation of 20 local businesses. They were thrilled with the exposure they received and the sales they made that season as a result. Some even said December was a record month for them. The turnout was incredible, we had 117 kids collect a prize, and one business reported 165 new visitors. Families commented how much they enjoyed the event and encouraged us to do it again next year. In an area where there is sometimes a lack of family-oriented activities, this really made an impression.
Giving Others the Chance
For me, asking for help – especially for someone else’s time – is incredibly difficult. Not because I’m afraid they’ll say no, but it drives me crazy when someone makes a commitment and doesn’t follow through. But how can they fail to follow through when I haven’t given them the chance to try? After my experience with Elf on the Shelf, it’s getting easier. I was amazed by the generosity of the businesses I had asked to donate and a face full of paper cuts taught me there are better ways to do things than all on my own.
As I settle into my RARE AmeriCorps position, I’m learning to trust others more and I’m taking page from the big man himself, Santa, because we all need helpers.
About the Author: Liz Esposito is a RARE AmeriCorps member serving as the Main Street Program Coordinator for the City of St. Helens, Oregon. Through her position, she is helping the St. Helens Economic Development Corporation (SHEDCO) build capacity and revitalize the city’s historic center by supporting local business and hosting community events.