In what has become a Beaches-area tradition, gift wrapping elves representing the MS Society made the holidays happier and prettier last month for hundreds of area residents.
More than 20 volunteer gift wrappers spent December putting the finishing touches on packages — small, large and huge — and turned nearly $10,000 worth of donations into supporting programs and services for the more than 18,000 North Floridians impacted by multiple sclerosis.
The NMSS — North Florida chapter volunteers annually wrap outside of the Five Below and Hallmark stores in the South Beach Regional Mall. Gift wrapping donations for MS in the past eight years have reached more than $60,000.
Said Heidi Katz, president, North Florida chapter, “We have so many repeat customers. People expect us to be there ... We hope we are making their holidays a little happier with a lot less stress. At the same time, their generosity is getting us closer to a world free of MS."
“We're creating smiles throughout December,” said longtime volunteer gift wrapper Bruce Reid of Ponte Vedra Beach. “You wouldn't believe how many times we hear, ‘You are saving my life by wrapping these gifts.’ Especially on Christmas Eve, which we jokingly refer to as Husband's Day.”
