As part of the Wish List Project in its 23rd year, donors brought hundreds of gift items they purchased to the Perez family home in Great Falls on Saturday, Dec. 9.  According to Lissa Perez, Wish List project co-chair, the family supports charitable organizations with a goal to use the gifts to spread holiday cheer for those in need throughout the region. Donors spent $100  to $150 per the 190 gifted individuals named on the lists. For many, the items would be their only gifts this year. 

This year's charitable holiday gift-giving initiatives benefit select individuals at Herndon Elementary School in the Town of Herndon, Aldrin Elementary School in Reston, The Women's Center, Second Story, and Fairfax County Foster Care.

According to Perez, twenty-two volunteers and elves dressed in red with bells and hats scurried to collect and wrap over a thousand gifts, stuff 100 stockings, and prepare gift cards to be delivered to 190 recipients.
“The generosity is terrific to see, and many teens and other elves from local schools didn’t mind giving up a Saturday to help,” said Perez, who shares the co-chair responsibility with Christie Shumadine.