Some 111 families and 120 senior citizens have signed up for
assistance through the 2007 Era’s Less Fortunate program.

Art Steinhauer, ELF Fund president, called last week’s sign-up
at the Bradford Area Public library “a great success.”

Applications for Christmas assistance came directly from 111
families and 79 senior citizens. In addition, 41 home-bound seniors
through Project CARE signed up for help.

The ELF Fund is sponsored by The Bradford Era.

Last year was the first time the ELF Fund took separate
applications and volunteers invested more than 240 man-hours taking
those applications to insure that everyone signed up.

Since the program is now run completely by volunteers, it was
necessary to consolidate the application process for future years –
starting with 2007.

Before receiving their gifts last year, every family received a
notice stating that they must take the responsibility to secure
their child’s Christmas by signing up during the second week in
October each year or their request for that year will be declined
without exception.

The notice further stated that by signing up as requested, their
children will receive gifts of both toys and clothing this year
instead of a choice of one or the other like last year.

“We really got the message out,” Steinhauer said, “I received
letters and faxes at the library last week from parents that were
unable to come in because of surgery, hospitalization, and even
incarceration. These parents went to great lengths to insure that
their children would receive ELF Fund Christmas gifts.”

Any parents that chose not to take the time to apply last week
will not be eligible to sign up again until the second week of
October 2008.

Last year, Steinhauer said, the ELF Fund tried to mimic other
agencies that have a paid staff and building.

“Our gracious hosts at the library provided a beautiful central
location, but after eight weeks and hundreds of volunteer hours
invested waiting for applicants to come in and sign up, we realized
that we could have taken all of the applications in less than one
week if the people would just show up when it was scheduled,” he
said.

“With the fixed schedule that was put into effect by the written
notice provided last distribution day, this problem has been
resolved and a more manageable and efficient ELF Fund has been
established,” he added.

Seniors who received ELF assistance in the past but were unable
to sign up last week will still be able to apply at the library
from 3-6 p.m. Nov. 13.

And, as always, first-time applications for families and seniors
will continue to be accepted through Nov. 26 by contacting The
Bradford Era.