Wrapping Gifts for Charity | Video

Evan Kruegel | 12/5/2012

Wrapping those holiday gifts can be a timely chore, and let`s face it, some of us are just not that great at it. But this season, thanks to Williston Friendly Faces, that chore can make a family`s holiday dreams come true.

"We tried to find ways to raise money, raise awareness, and to help other families in need at the same time as doing a service. Because there`s so many people that hate wrapping and would rather pay someone to do it, and we`d love to do it for them," said volunteer Falon Smaltz.

Here`s how the first-year program works: Shoppers can bring in unwrapped gifts of any shape or size, along with a free will donation. Volunteers will professionally wrap them, return them to you, and use the money to buy food and gifts for those in need.

"I think that the presentation is almost half what you get with a gift. It`s a big difference when you get something wrapped nicely with a big bow as compared to in a Wal-Mart bag. The anticipation is better," said Smaltz.

Volunteers will be at Ryan motors on Tuesday and Thursday evenings through the 20th, wrapping gifts and collecting money for selected families.

"I have no problem donating my time, especially when it comes to Christmas. It`s my favorite time of the year and it really brings out the generous spirit of everyone in the town."

Organizers say it`s easy to forget that not everybody in Williston is bringing in the big bucks.

"It is boomtown and everybody thinks that everybody is making tons of money and that they can afford everything. But everyone forgets about the families that travel up here with nothing," said volunteer Brandy LaDue.

"There`s so many people in this town that don`t make hundreds of thousands of dollars, that aren`t making oil field money. And there`s a lot of single mothers and single fathers that are out there trying to do what they can for their kids, and we just want to make it a little bit better," said Smaltz.

The program is always looking for more volunteers, but most of all, they want more people to donate.

"We`re looking for more people to come, bring your gifts to us, let us wrap them, the more that we can wrap, the more we make, and the more people we can help."

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