One of the keys to being a Selfless Elf is recognizing how lucky I am to be surrounded by the people and things I love. A great way to do that is to start off this year’s activities by creating a “gratitude keeper”.

Find a jar or small box that can hold a bunch of small strips of paper (elf pro tip: empty tissue boxes work great!) Decorate the outside of your container for the holidays and then each day throughout the month of December, write down one thing you are grateful for and put it in the box. You can do it on your own or ask family members to put theirs in the box too.

Then at the end of the month take all the strips out of the box and share your gratitudes for a feel-good moment to kick off the new year. Here’s a link to a page of slips you can print and use – or feel free to make your own!

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It’s because of selfless elves like you that the Food Bank of the Southern Tier is able to help so many families in our community fight hunger all year long.

Thank you for all of your efforts and thank you to all of our sponsors!

OUR SELFLESS SPONSORS

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What’s your favorite color? I like red because it’s the color of my elf shoes – and the stripes on a candy cane! Color a picture of your favorite elf (me!) and give it to someone to make their day.

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R eceiving a holiday card from family and friends feels like a warm hug when it’s cold outside! It means they are thinking of you and want your holiday season to be merry and bright. Make someone feel extra special by making them a holiday card! Hand-deliver it with a smile, or mail it with a stamp. 

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Imade a list – and checked it twice – of items that food pantries need all year round. Print it out, head to the grocery store, and find them all! Bring the care package to a local food pantry with a signed Selfless Elf note.
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The holidays can be the most fun time of the year, but they can also be stressful for those dealing with hunger. The good news is you can help them to put food on the table and a smile on their faces with a tax-deductible donation to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Every dollar you donate provides three meals for those in need. That means with a $10 donation you can help the Food Bank provide 30 meals!
Bank of the Southern Tier. Every dollar you donate provides three meals for those in need. That means with a $10 donation you can help the Food Bank provide 30 meals!

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of the Southern Tier

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Some food is as fun to make as it is to eat. That’s especially true when you are able to share it with others.

Whether staying in on a chilly December evening or going to a holiday celebration, the healthy, festive recipes below make it easy to bring a little holiday cheer to your table (and your tummy!)

If you don’t have all the ingredients to make one of these recipes, feel free to choose one of your own. Or you can pick up what you need the next time you visit one of our biggest Selfless Elf sponsors – Wegmans!

Celery Reindeer Snacks

Grinch Fruit Kebabs

Elf Shoes

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What’s your favorite holiday movie? Me, I like ones with elves and happy holiday songs! Ask your family and friends about their favorite holiday movies and take turns watching them – by the Christmas tree, near a warm fire, or maybe even in a blanket fort! – together during December.

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As an elf, I love the cold weather. However, when you don’t have warm clothes to wear, winter time is not much fun at all.

One way you can help is to donate new or gently used clothing that others can use to keep cozy on these cold days here in the Southern Tier.

Check your closets for jackets, gloves and mittens, hats, boots or pairs of pants that you don’t need anymore. It’s a good way to make room for any new clothes you might receive at the holidays, plus you can feel good knowing you’ve helped someone else! Print out the Selfless Elf note to sign and include with your donation.

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The Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s Mobile Food Pantry delivers food to seniors where and when they need it most. This holiday season, let’s deliver even more joy by dropping off homemade paper snowflakes to local senior centers and nursing homes to decorate with! No two snowflakes are ever the same, so you can use any materials you’d like. Print out the Selfless Elf note to sign and include with your beautiful snowflakes too!

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Most of us look forward to the sights and smells of this time of year. However, it can be extremely difficult when you don’t have enough food for you and your family. Fortunately, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier can help. Just a $1 donation to the Food Bank can provide 3 meals for those in need and a $10 donation can create 30 meals.
Please consider making a Selfless Elf donation to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier today.
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Holiday stories are fun to read and even better to share! Our local libraries help us share books with one another throughout the entire year. This December, take out a holiday book from the library and return it with a special Selfless Elf bookmark from you. The next person who reads the book will get a nice surprise!
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We all have our favorite treats this time of year. Many have recipes that have been passed down from gene- ration to generation or from friend to friend. Ask a family member or friend what their favorite holiday recipe is and then plan some time to enjoy each other’s company.
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If there’s one thing that everyone could use these days, it’s more time. The good news is there are lots of ways you can help. Offer to do a chore around the house for someone else. Babysit for a friend or neighbor for a few hours. Make (or pick-up) a meal
for a few hours. Make (or pick-up) a meal to help make someone’s night a little easier. Whatever you do, you can feel good knowing you’ve helped give someone more time to enjoy the holidays!
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Being a Selfless Elf sure is fun! And making our loved ones and communities feel special is icing on the gingerbread. There are so many ways that you can be a Selfless Elf all year! In addition to daily acts of kindness, you can:
  • Volunteer throughout the year at Food Bank of the Southern Tier! Sign up to help us do things like sort, repack, and distribute food by yourself, with family and friends, or co-workers.
  • Become a Full Plate Partner, the Food Bank’s monthly donor society, to make a lasting impact on neighbors in the Southern Tier.
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Our local animal shelters work hard to take care of all kinds of animals all year long and they can always use help. Consider donating cat or dog food, blankets and animal toys during the holidays or whenever you can. Print this Selfless Elf note to include in your care package to let the people that work there know how important they are.

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Here’s another set of recipes for treats that not only taste good, but are fun & easy to create. You can make them for home or to take to a holiday party. And if you don’t happen to have the ingredients on hand, you can pick them up on your next trip to Wegmans. Whatever you do, be sure to share with friends & family!

Strawberry Santas

Reindeer PB & Js

Christmas Tree Fruit Platter

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One way we can all be Selfless Elves is to spend time really focusing on others. Plan a dinner that gives you the chance to do just that by turning off your phones and TVs. Gather round the glow of holiday lights or warm candles with family and friends and just listen to each other, as you enjoy your favorite meal together!
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More of our community than ever before may not be sure where and when their next meal will be. One in eight adults and one in six children are at risk of hunger. By donating to Food Bank of the Southern Tier, you can help provide food and hope this holiday season! Make a true difference in our neighbors’ lives by giving today.

$1 = 3 Meals

$10 = 30 meals

$25 = 75 Meals

$50 = 300lbs of fresh produce

$75 = 25 food-filled
backpacks for kids

$100 = 300 meals

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I love storytime! And so do many other friends and neighbors in our community. Books make us smile when we read them, especially on a cozy winter night. Share the magic that books bring to our lives by donating new or used books to local libraries, daycares, hospitals, or senior centers this holiday season.
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Letting people know how much you appreciate their hard work is another great way to be a Selfless Elf. To help with that, here is a Jingles- approved Thank You note featuring yours truly that you can print and place in your mailbox (maybe even with a small gift!) for your postal worker to see the next time they come by.
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Facetime, Zoom, Skype, or a simple phone call. There’s lots of ways to keep in touch with those you care for during the holidays! Call someone you miss a little extra this month and wish them a happy holiday season.
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Wow – there sure are some amazing “elves” out there who’ve worked hard to create magical holiday displays all across our region. One way to tell them how much you enjoy all they’ve done is by leaving a thank you message from me, Jingles. It’ll leave a warm glow in both your hearts!
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Teachers and mentors help us learn and grow! This holiday, thank a teacher or a mentor for all that they do with my special Selfless Elf note! Fill it out and give or send it to someone who has encouraged you to be your very best.
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Ask family members or friends what their favorite holiday memory is and have them tell you the story. From the hilarious to the heartwarming, taking a few precious moments to sit and listen to the stories of holidays past is a wonderful way to spend time over a cup of hot cocoa this time of year.
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One of the keys to being a Selfless Elf is recognizing how lucky I am to be surrounded by the people and things I love. A great way to do that is to start off this year’s activities by creating a “gratitude keeper”.

Find a jar or small box that can hold a bunch of small strips of paper (elf pro tip: empty tissue boxes work great!) Decorate the outside of your container for the holidays and then each day throughout the month of December, write down one thing you are grateful for and put it in the box. You can do it on your own or ask family members to put theirs in the box too.

Then at the end of the month take all the strips out of the box and share your gratitudes for a feel-good moment to kick off the new year. Here’s a link to a page of slips you can print and use – or feel free to make your own!

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT
DONATE