Grades 9-12  •  Cranford, New Jersey

On one day in December, third- and fourth-grade students from an urban elementary school are invited to Cranford High School, where they are treated to a day of fun, complete with activities, food, and music. Each younger student is assigned two high school "elves," who serve as their personal escorts for the day. These companions buy their adopted child a small gift before taking him or her around to the plethora of Holiday-Fest workshops, which offer activities ranging from candle making to puppet performances. The guest students can also choose a present, from an assortment of donations, to take home for their family members, a gift which the elves help them to wrap. Once the day is over, the children express their gratitude by sending personalized letters to their elves. This year, Cranford received a letter of thanks from the elementary school's principal, which was later read over the speaker system for all to appreciate. In the spring, some elves and staff make a return visit to the elementary school to see their adopted students' work and to maintain the relationship they established at Holiday-Fest.