Elves for Elders hosts Christmas in August

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Maxine Hutchins may just have the most unique non-profit in Rhode Island.

Hutchins operates Elves for Elders that people like Christine Crum will tell you is “a tremendous undertaking but luckily Maxine has a system and lots of people who donate, volunteer and help.”

That’s why Crum, who is president and owner of Gentry Moving and Storage that’s based in Cranston, teamed with Hutchins and two friends, Jen Burns and Tracy Cale, last Wednesday afternoon for a fundraiser unlike any other at this time of year.

Elves for Elders, as Crum explained while greeting guests at Brookdale Pocasset Bay Retirement Living Center, is a non-profit that strives to provide Christmas gifts for senior citizens who live in Rhode Island-based nursing homes and assisted living facilities who otherwise might not have any presents during the holiday season.

The non-profit’s goal, as Crum noted, “Is for each senior (citizen) to receive his or her gift by December 25.”

Crum, as well as Burns who is the Sales-Marketing Director at The Bridge at Cherry Hill and Cale of Brookdale Pocasset Bay and are also part of Elves for Elders, joined forces for last Wednesday’s Christmas in July Barbecue that was highlighted by fun, food and the music of a duo named Well Ordered Transitions featuring guitar-vocalist Ned Pace and his singing wife Alice Pace.

“We were supposed to have this event two weeks ago in July,” Crum said under sunny skies that brought about hot and humid temperatures. “Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate then so today the main focus is Christmas no matter that the date.”

With Brookdale Pocasset providing the special backdrop on its outdoor patio and well-manicured lawn, Elves for Elders held what Crum called “a great and fun activity paired with food and drink, raffles and a charity donation to play the activity or game called Cornhole.”

Cornhole is a creation that features players tossing bean bags toward a board that has a hole and the player tries to put the bag smack in the hole.

The event featured 20 teams in a single elimination event featuring six boards that wound up with three teams winning medals.

“This was a blast,” Crum said about the Cornhole contest. “The best thing, though, was this event was well attended by many people who represented different Senior Provider Companies from around the state. Today, we raised $808 that will certainly help Maxine jumpstart her program.”

A program that Hutchins has operated for the past 10 years, with over 1,250 presents given to senior citizens around the state.

“But there’s always room for more,” said Crum. “We all understand the time and money it takes to get this amazing program off the ground and that’s why we wanted to help with a donation well before HolidayMania kicks in.”

Crum further explained that people can help Elves for Elders by choosing a star off one of the many Donation Trees that are placed around the state for the holiday season. Also, people who’d like to partake in the program should contact Hutchins of Seniors Rule at threeofcupz@gmail.com or Crum at 641-0223.

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