Special delivery

In every room, elves scurry about, stuffing toys in bags, making sure Christmas is jolly for another child.

No, it isn't the scene out of a Christmas movie. It's taking place at the old Juvenile Assessment Center on Bogard Road, where hundreds of volunteers are working literally around the clock, making sure the Special Santa program leaves no child without some holiday cheer.

"We've handled at least 5,000 toys and pieces of clothing," said coordinator Mari Jo Parks. "This year, thanks to a book drive, every child is getting a book, and every parent is getting a book, too."

Each child gets two to three gifts through the program. This year, Parks estimates her organization will make sure Christmas is alive and well for more than 2,000 children who might not enjoy a Christmas otherwise.

For Parks and the legion of volunteers, there are stories that tug at the heart strings, reaffirming why they spend countless hours sorting through toys and keeping the program running.

"We had one lady come in with four children and she got five bags of toys," Parks said. "She said she was sharing those bags with other children because she didn't want to be greedy, and because she had family, and Christmas was still going to be special. I could have cried."

The program is driven through donations, from both individuals and businesses.

Parks said businesses have been very generous this year. For the first time, a national company got behind the program.

"It's getting so big that Mari Jo wrote to some big companies, and Lands End replied with a $25,000 donation of clothing for the program," said Karen Boorman, one of the 'elves' of the Special Santa program. "They sent 60 boxes with coats, boots, mittens, shoes. We've got closets and closets of clothes to give to children. We are so thrilled."

Students have been vital to the program's success as well. One student, Jaxon Logan, organized a Coins for Christmas contest between middle schools. Wasilla Middle School won the trophy and box of candy for collecting the most money. Together, the schools helped raise more than $1,500. Another student has organized a bike drive and collected numerous bicycles to give away. Many of the people working at the collection center are students who are donating their time.

"We've got a lot of different groups of students who come help. We've got hundreds of volunteers," Boorman said. "Every little bit helps."

Families have already started picking up boxes of toys for Christmas, and that will continue through Dec. 24. Then, and only then, can Parks and her team of elves finally take a break.

"It's all worth it," Parks said. "You only have to see the look in the parents' eyes when they realize there are going to be presents under their tree this year. Then you know it's worth it."

About 1,000 toys were collected as part of the Halloween Hollow event, for which admission was one unwrapped toy.

The work doesn't end when Christmas does, however.

olunteers usually start planning the next year's program in mid-April, and then turn their attention to organizing the Halloween Hollow event.