ELLSWORTH – It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Ellsworth’s Gift Box program and the Ellsworth High School elves are hard at work organizing and checking their lists. Last year, the program provided gifts to about 90 families in need.

This year’s students coordinating the program are juniors Lillie Rewolinski and Maggie Pechacek, and seniors Adam Capatske, Arianna Starbuck and Carolyn Trannel.

“When Ms. P (EHS social studies teacher/service learning coordinator Anne Pechacek) asked me, I was for sure,” Rewolinski said. “I just like to be able to give back and bring Christmas to other people because it’s my favorite holiday. I just like to help people in some way, shape or form.”

Starbuck and Trannel volunteered with the group last year, so they will share their experience with the newcomers.

“For my first time last year, it went super smoothly,” Starbuck said.

Maggie Pechacek, whose mother Anne has advised the group for years, has been helping her mom shop for families since she was a little kid.

“It was just something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “It was so fun when I was little; I could buy whatever I wanted, but give it to someone else.”

Last year, she shopped for a family of eight and filled their wish list.

Capatske hung out with the group last year and was soon recruited.

“When it came around this year, I thought it sounds fun,” he said. “I have some friends in here and we can make it a good time. I just do whatever I’m told.”

Anne Pechacek admits organizing the program is a big job. The school district took it over from C3 Church in 2014; the program has been in existence for roughly 30 years, in one form or another, she said.

“Adult volunteers help as well, with getting in touch with churches and getting information out to people,” Anne Pechacek said.

The Pierce County Gift Box program at one time served 180 families county-wide. Now each community/school district has their own programs, such as Sharing Families in River Falls and an adopt a family initiative in Prescott.

The deadline to apply to receive assistance with gifts was last week; families who apply going forward will be put on a waiting list. If they group has the resources, they’ll serve as many families as possible.

As for putting it all together, Anne Pechacek said a couple of the students are detail-oriented, while others are better at making phone calls to families to let them know they’ve been selected.

“The first time is a little hard, but it gets easier,” Starbuck said of making calls. “Sometimes we run into language barriers.”

Many families apply in August, because an application is sent to every household in the Ellsworth Community School District that may qualify for free or reduced lunches.

“Some apply in August and we make a point to contact everybody so they know they’ve been matched with a sponsor,” Anne Pechacek said.

The group began work in earnest on Nov. 1, updating its database and adding families’ names and lists.

“We code families and match them with sponsors, according to the family size and budget,” Maggie Pechacek said.

“We can look them up right away, to help match them with a sponsor,” Rewolinski added.

Once all the information is compiled and families matched with sponsors, the students will shop for gifts, wrap them and bring them to Pierce Pepin for a family pickup day. Sponsors are also free to shop for gifts for their families and wrap them as well.

Anne Pechacek said about 25 families have not been matched with sponsors yet, so they’re looking for more individuals, families or groups who would like to sponsor.

“The sponsor will get a list of everything the family wants or needs (mom, dad, child). Usually they just take it from there,” Rewolinksi said. “In my 4-H club, we sponsor a family and divide it up.”

So far this year, 80 families signed up before the close of registration last Wednesday; those added going forward will be on a waiting list. The goal is to let people know by Thanksgiving if they are matched with a sponsor.

The group accepts monetary donations for those who would rather contribute but not shop. They also apply for grants some years, plus a few businesses and organizations donate each year to the cause.

“That will often help us make those ends meet,” Anne Pechacek said. “Two years ago we had a huge, out-of-the-blue donation from a group in River Falls when I was really stressing about how we’d serve each family.”

The family pickup day was memorable last year for Starbuck.

“At first, I thought it was going to be from some movie and everyone would be bawling,” she said. “And that wasn’t the case. There were a lot of smiles and it made me feel good, giving people hope and happiness.”

Anne Pechacek said they verify that applicants live in the district or have children who attend Ellsworth schools.

For those wishing to donate, you can drop off monetary donations at any school district building, mail it to PO Box 1500, Attn. Ellsworth Gift Box Program, Ellsworth WI 54011 or work with the Ellsworth Community School District Foundation in order for the donation to be tax-exempt. You can also visit the school website and click on the link under the “Community” tab or email ellsworthgiftboxprogram@gmail.com