The Elf program

For many years, The Rotary Club of Forked River has helped many families have a happier Christmas.  “Every child should remember Christmas as a good time of year and the Rotary Club of Forked River helps make that a reality through our Elf Program” says Rotarian Ken Flatt.  

The Forked River Rotary Club Elf Program helps local families who are experiencing a difficult financial situation at Christmas time.  Every year Forked River Rotary helps approximately 350 children experience a happier Christmas through the Elf Program.  In September,  Rotarians start shopping for gifts online and at stores throughout Ocean, Atlantic, Burlington and Monmouth Counties.  A few days before Christmas, parents of the selected children are invited to come to a venue in Forked River to select and take home Christmas gifts which they see as best for their children.   Members of the  LTHS Interact Club provide essential help in setting up the venue and providing assistance on the distribution day.   

To identify those in need, we mail questionnaires to the parents of children participating in the local state sponsored School Lunch Program.  The returned questionnaires are screened to select the beneficiaries.  

Club fundraising events, along with the generosity of our members and event sponsors, enable the Club to budget between $16,000 to $25,000 a year to fund the Elf Program.  We especially need to thank Ocean (Waretown) Township Police PBA, Lacey Township Police PBA and the Lacey Moose Club for their very generous annual donations of $1000.  They have been making this donation every year since 2003.

Rotary thanks those who support our club and make this project possible. 

Find out more, or arrange to make a donation.