Be an Elf! Christmas Gift Distribution to Families in Need

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ReVive’s Christmas Basket Program has been a Chicago staple for 94 years. Each of the 1,800 in-need families that we serve is matched with a sponsor who provides them with requested gifts and a grocery gift card for Christmas dinner. For many families, these are the only gifts they will receive at Christmas.

We require volunteer assistance for the collection and distribution of the gifts starting in early December!

There are three parts to the operation: the delivery trucks, the delivery warehouse and the family pick-up room.

On Dec. 1st-6th and 8th-13th, "Sleigh driving elves" and their navigating assistant "elves" drive U-haul size trucks to churches in the greater Chicago area to pick up their Christmas basket donations and deliver them to our office. Their work begins at 8:30am and continues until their route is completed (approximately 3-4 hours). Truck teams may have to help load trucks at pick-up locations. Two to four drivers/navigators are needed every day from December 1 through December 13. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license.

In the warehouse, our volunteer Workshop Elves organize the family boxes, unload delivery trucks, and find boxes for the families when they come in.

In the family pick-up room, our volunteer List Checking Elves greet families as they arrive and help verify the identity and scheduling of recipients.

We have dates available starting on Dec 2nd through Dec. 14th, and we ask that our volunteers are available from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30-3 p.m. (the end time depends on the amount of baskets we are dealing with in that day).