RADFORD – The Radford Elf Shelf for 2025 is a wrap!
The Elf Shelf is Radford’s Christmas “store” and provides Christmas assistance for local families who meet 200% poverty guidelines. In its 32nd year of service, Elf Shelf provided new toys, stocking stuffers and food to 137 families, with a total of 330 children, plus an additional 37 older and disabled adults who live in Radford.
Each eligible family came to Grove United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 to shop for $75 worth of new toys for each child in their household. They also selected bonus items, such as family games, books, necessity items and wrapping paper. In addition, each family received a food voucher based on family size. This year the Radford Food City partnered with Elf Shelf to redeem the vouchers, and Food City also provided “Friends in Need” and “Pets in Need” bags to be distributed during Elf Shelf.
Elf Shelf is a massive undertaking, requiring financial and toy donations as well as man-hours from over 180 volunteers. In the months and days leading up to the event, local groups, businesses, churches, schools, and individuals stepped up to provide for Elf Shelf, and this event could truly not happen without that support.
Margaret Sproule, Elf Shelf coordinator
