The older punks always look forward to this service project, we make it fun and have a lot of laughs.
As you can see, we believe in dressing the part. Santa's elves never looked so fine!
Of course, there's always a critic in the house...
But we charmed him around by the second verse of "Frosty the Snowman"... (he is actually the very photogenic littlest elf of one of our good friends - )
But THIS one didn't believe one word about that old silk hat...
This ding-a-ling....
can always be counted on for a laugh!
The first shift brought their thermos of hot cocoa this time - we learn fast, in 10 degree weather with wind blowing in the door every time a shopper exited!
AND, we get results! Some of the shoppers even remembered us from last week - they asked if we were singing again, and a few even stuck around to see if we got the 12 Days of Christmas right this time! A lot of seniors tend to shop the same day same time, so we had returnees from last week, and had fun joking around with them. I think many seniors have lost a spouse or don't have family around, and just like to visit, kid around and have some laughs. We are very good at that assignment!
"Didja see how much HE put in?? Weehaw!"
"Thanks, mister, and Merry Christmas!"
Then the second shift come on. Shorter, but just as much fun! They need to work on the words to the songs, though....
Being really cute and adorable elves, they rake in the coins from susceptible shoppers - which is most of them!"OK, ya got it now? Ring the bell just as they start pushing the cart towards the door, then they remember to dig the change out of their pockets. Ya gotta say Merry Christmas real loud, some of 'em don't hear so well...."
"I can do it, I know what to do, Wee."
Now how could anyone resist this mug??
"WHAT??!! Ya mean we don't get to take da pot home?"
See - even the smallest elves have that charm - another score!
This little pink-coated girl really took the eye of that elf -the pink coat was the actually what he was coveting...
"Ah, you just THINK he has all the charm, gramma. Look - see my baby blue eyes? That gets 'em every time, doncha know!"
One of the reasons we like to do shifts at this particular store, is the fact that it has a BAKERY.
And they are very generous with samples - the two littlest elves scored two big warm chocolate chip cookies each before the end of their shift (they only had to do 20 minutes - we figured that's the longest gramma could keep Max in one place...)
"Umm, umm - chocowat chips."
"Hey. Wait a minute...Jayden got TWO. Where's my other cookie??"
"OH yay. Dat's my cookie. Ummmm um um um."
"Wait. Did I miss something?"
OOO la la, look at those braids! What a charming chapeau! Mommy's little helper, on the job.
She'll be coming out in a minute, guys...
And look what's UNDER the cute hat - another little heart breaker, for sure! Oops - busted. She saw the camera. Oh, wait - I bet she was looking at the elves. Or maybe it was our rendition of "Jingle Bells". That was a sure thing, any shopper hearing that was lured right to the Red Kettle.
It was a toss up - the elves or Jingle Bells. See how that works? They just can't get by those cute elves without dropping the coins!
Although I have to admit, after carefully considering the two coins she slipped into the pot, she did hang on to two dimes, to put in the nearby candy machines. When her mom realized what was going on, she pointed out to her, that the dimes wouldn't work, and to put them in the kettle. Win some, lose some, little lady. And those elves win, every time!
Max will tell you, it's the pink boots. Gotta have pink boots to be a successful elf.
2 comments:
What a great thing to do. That is a great way to spread some Christmas cheer. Keep up the good work. Love you all!!!
All in a day's work, eh? Great job guys!
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