Help an Elf Application
The Help an Elf Holiday Gift Program provides holiday gifts for children of eligible APSU students. Campus groups, individuals, organizations, and departments "adopt" student families and shop from your child's wish list — keeping your family's identity completely confidential throughout the process.
Application Deadline
Applications are due by 11 pm CT on November 3, 2026
Due to the volume of applicants, late applications cannot be accepted.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must meet all of the following criteria:
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Currently enrolled as a full-time, undergraduate APSU student
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Not participating in, and not planning to register for, any off-campus holiday gift program
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Your child(ren) can legally be claimed as your dependents, are 17 years of age or younger, and living in your home.
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Only one application will be accepted per enrolled undergraduate student family, including families where both parents are students.
Authorization and Confidentiality
Submitting this application authorizes the Office of Student Affairs to verify your financial aid information through university records, and to obtain program participation information from local or other agencies with similar programs. The information on this application will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of establishing your eligibility to participate in the Help an Elf Program.
In an effort to protect your family's privacy, each family is also assigned a letter of the alphabet and each child is assigned a number (for example, A1, A2). Your adopter(s) will purchase and wrap gifts individually for each child, labeled with their “elf number.” Adopters will also be asked to provide a list of items purchased to reduce the chance of a gift being duplicated by the parent(s).
Apply for the 2026 Help an Elf Program