Thanks to the generosity of community members, civic associations, local businesses and charitable organizations, Operation Elf provided holiday gifts to 126 children with a parent incarcerated in Alexandria.

This annual program ensures that children with a parent housed at the Adult Detention Center receive meaningful holiday presents, including toys, games, books, and gift cards. Each year, members of the Inmate Services team invite incarcerated parents to participate and collect basic information, like age and gender, to guide gift selection. Staff then thoughtfully select and package the gifts in decorative bags and coordinate pickup by a family member or guardian in the days leading up to Christmas.

In addition to supporting families connected to the detention center, Operation Elf also provided gifts to families participating in Together We Bake, a program that empowers underserved and formerly incarcerated women through workforce training and personal development. Gifts were also shared with families in need throughout the community through referrals from partner agencies.

Altogether, more than 200 children benefited from Operation Elf during the 2025 holiday season. Programs like Operation Elf play an important role in helping families stay connected during the holidays and supporting a smoother transition when a parent returns to the community.

This effort is made possible by generous donations of toys, gift cards, and funds from community members, including those who participated in Del Ray events, and from partner organizations such as Capital Christmas Group, Toys for Tots, Greene Funeral Home, Basilica of Saint Mary, and Future Church.

Sheriff Sean Casey and the entire Sheriff’s Office family extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to Operation Elf and helped share the spirit of the season. We are also grateful to ALXnow for highlighting Operation Elf and helping spread the word about this meaningful community effort.