Celebrating 32 Years in 2026!

The Help an Elf Holiday Gift Program, coordinated by the director of Student Affairs, provides assistance for currently enrolled, full-time undergraduate APSU students with holiday shopping by providing winter holiday gifts for their children. Recipients of the holiday gifts will be children of income-eligible APSU students who are currently enrolled in 12 or more undergraduate credit hours, and who are not participating in any off-campus holiday gift programs.

Adopters have made this program possible for three decades and have included APSU departments, faculty, staff, alumni, athletic teams, student organizations, and campus groups. Eligible student families are assigned to adopters based on the number of children the adopters request, and adopters purchase gifts for each child.

Thank you to all our adopters for supporting the program and making the holidays brighter for APSU students and their families!

If you are interested in adopting or donating to this program, please email us.

Apply for the Program

Our goal is to provide assistance to as many eligible families as possible; please note that priority will be given to first-time participants meeting all qualifications. The number of families assisted by this program is contingent on the number of individuals, groups, and departments available to adopt families.

• We make every effort to assist eligible families, but assistance is not guaranteed. Due to volume of applicants, late applications cannot be accepted.

• If there are not enough campus groups, individuals, or departments available to adopt all families, applicants will be notified.

• Student information will remain confidential.

• One application may be submitted per student family, even if both parents are APSU students.

NOTE: Submitting an application serves as authorization for the Student Affairs Office to verify financial aid and enrollment information through university records and to obtain program participation information from local agencies that sponsor similar programs.

Apply for Assistance

Other Available Resources and Support Services

If you have any questions regarding the program, please email the office.

History Of The Program

Throughout the past 32 years, the Help an Elf program has provided holiday gifts to nearly 1,600 children of APSU students through the unwavering support of the APSU campus community. Student Affairs staff coordinate the confidential adoption of income-eligible student families by APSU organizations, departments and groups, as well as individual faculty and staff. Many campus partners have made it a tradition to adopt an elf family and coordinate shopping, wrapping and delivery of gifts to the office just in time for the holiday.

The program originated with the APSU student service organization, ProjectServe, and their advisor, Barbara Phillips, former assistant vice president for Student Affairs and associate dean of students. 

The program depends on personal funds so we greatly appreciate monetary donations as well as gift cards and donations of new clothing, shoes, books, toys and games. These additional resources help us ensure each child enjoys the gift-giving season and assists our student parents with a less stressful holiday. We care about our students and their families.