The De Soto Knights of Columbus Little Elves program recently provided about 230 children with a variety of gifts for Christmas, including blankets, coats, hats, gloves, slippers, pajama pants, personal care products, toys, candy, bags of fruit and more, said Vicky Moss, co-chairman of the program.
Children received the gifts at the Little Elves 10th annual Christmas event, held Dec. 3 at the KC Hall in De Soto.
“This is one day when they can forget everything and just be a child and be happy,” Moss said.
The event included breakfast, games and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The KC Clowns also were on hand, Moss said.
She said volunteer Tammy Schrand provided children with free haircuts, which were so popular children were willing to wait in a long line to receive them.
“Some of these children only get a haircut once a year,” said Moss. “I hope to have another person cut hair next year. It was really a big thing. For the children, it makes them feel good to have their hair cut professionally. They look and feel good.”
The children who attended the event were from local families in need who were referred by either the De Soto Food Pantry or the Athena, Vineland, De Soto Junior High, Kingston or Richwoods schools, Moss said.
She said one family received an air hockey table, a couple of families received swing sets and about 50 children received new bicycles.
Moss said the event started 10 years ago in the back of the De Soto Food Pantry with one wrapped gift for each child. Over the years, the program has grown, allowing the Little Elves to serve more children and give them more gifts.
Moss said she raises money for the event by selling cakes every Tuesday night from October to March at the weekly Knights of Columbus shooting matches.
She said the Little Elves also receives donations from both Knights of Columbus members and others.
Moss said a De Soto-based group called We Got Six also helps, collecting and donating toys to the Little Elves.
She said the We Got Six group already started collecting for next year’s event last weekend outside the De Soto Walmart, and Kim and Mike Pazdera of K.A. Pazdera Hauling and Excavating of the Festus area loaned the group trucks to use for the collection.
Moss said the event also benefits from volunteers.
“Bill and Lisa Polley have donated their time to us a lot of years to play Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Bill and Lisa have brought so much joy to the children,” Moss said.