ICYMI: Sudbury Kids Help Fill Wish Lists With Operation Elf

SUDBURY, MA — There are three kids in Sudbury who aren't thinking about what's on their wish list, but ways to help others with a wish list.

Sophie, 14, Gracie, 12, and Sam Rocca, 9, and their parents Katie Rocca and Chris Foley, joined several others in town to package up and mail off nearly 900 gifts for children in need in Massachusetts. As part of Operation Elf, the family earned money fundraising to help buy the gifts.

Operation ELF (Everybody Loves Families), according to its site, is an all-volunteer charitable nonprofit organization serving children in Greater Boston, Eastern Massachusetts, Vermont, and Southern New Hampshire. We give holiday gifts to over 1,300 local area needy children. "ELF is designed to bring hope, joy, and the spirit of the holidays to children who are wards of the state or who find themselves in transitional living situations regardless of gender, race, religion, or nationality."

"I can say I'm beyond proud of how hard my children, specifically sam, worked," said Katie, "walking the neighborhood dogs for months to earn the $100 for each child, then to sponsor and shop for a child their own ages knowing these kids have no home at Christmas. Sophie helped create personalized hand made cards along with the other elves to go with each child's present."

Each month, the children use a volunteer match website to choose a charity to contribute time and money to, such as United Way and Easter Seals.

"When we found Operation Elf we knew it was a perfect match," said Katie. "We wore our fancy elf hats with ears and my husband and I along with our children and two of Sam's 9 year old buddies helped out. We had a blast and encourage more families to come together in giving to others. We always gain so much more than we receive."