Operation E.L.F. Program
Enhancing the Lives of Families in our community this holiday season
*Eligible recipients are limited to only clients of Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center and not open to the general public*
Click Here for the Participation Form
Operation E.L.F is DCAC’s annual toy drive that takes place from November through December. DCAC partners with local businesses, schools, churches, organizations, and individuals to collect toys for the children who receive services at DCAC. Many of the parents and caregivers we help do not have the resources to buy new items, so for many of these children, Operation E.L.F. gifts are the only ones they open on Christmas. Partners of this program shop for gifts, set up angel trees, put up toy donation drop-offs, and collect monetary donations so that we can continue to provide a Merry Christmas for over 200 families each year.
Operation E.L.F. Amazon WishlistAs much as we would love to be able to help every family that needed help, we simply must limit our reach to the children who have received services in our facility and their siblings who are in need. We provide for children from newborn through 17 years old, males and females, that have been clients at our center within the past three years.
Providing for teenagers always possess the biggest challenge for us. The truth is, they are harder to shop for, request more expensive items, and have more specific tastes. Some of the items that we enjoy giving to our older children include pajamas, sports equipment, make-up, jewelry, hygiene gift sets, gift cards, and perfume/cologne.
Candy and food of any kind, used toys/clothes/books etc., and open or damaged items. Please do not send anything personalized.
- Beginning in October, we start asking our families to fill out a form where we collect information on the child’s gift requests, interests, and clothing & shoe sizes.
- Participating businesses and organizations begin filling out an Operation E.L.F. Sponsor Form by mid-October so we can disburse our a list of “Angels” before the Black Friday shopping weekend.
- Our community partners work on collecting gift donations and are asked to turn in their items by the deadline of Monday, December 9th. This allows us time to collect, sort, and distribute to our families in order for them to have their items before Santa arrives on Dec. 25th. Transportation for some families is limited so we urge our participants to stick to the deadlines provided to help ensure everyone gets their gifts on time.
- After all of the donations are collected the DCAC’s Family Advocates lead the center’s staff in packing gifts and making sure that every child’s list is fulfilled to the best of our ability with items that match their interests.
To become a business or organization hosting an Angel Tree location and/or a Toy Drive Collection Box location, please fill out the Participation Form for the current year, coming available October 14th.
Questions? contact Brooke Anderson at banderson@dorchestercac.org or at 843-875-1551.
Yes! We use these to shop for any undonated needs, or any last minute children that may come in our door during those last few weeks leading up to Christmas. Any monetary donations can be sent to:
Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center
c/o Joan Quinn
303 E. Richardson Ave.
Summerville, SC 29483.
Please make checks payable to Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center and be sure to specify your donation is for Operation E.L.F. Receipts for tax purposes will be mailed to the address included on the donation.
Monetary donations remain allocated to the Operation E.L.F fund and will be used in following years to purchase anything that is needed for the program. Tangible items that are donated that we are unable to find a suitable recipient for will be donated to a similar organization supporting children within the same holiday season.