BOUNTIFUL—Kindergarteners at Adelaide Elementary School were surprised when they came into their classroom and found wrapped gifts waiting for them on their desks. The children first listened to the book “Elves and the Shoemaker” in the library then went on a scavenger hunt to find the packages. The kids wasted no time ripping through the paper to find a new pair of shoes.

The project, The Elves and the Shoemaker is sponsored by America First Credit Union. “America First started the program ‘Warm the Soles’ about two years ago,” said Jordan Wilcken, charitable foundation coordinator for America First. “It’s in six states. We’ve carried on the tradition and given out 4,000 pairs of shoes.”

Wilcken said the credit union partners with the Davis Education Foundation. “They tell us where shoes are needed. We come in and measure the kids’ feet and tell them we’re doing it to see if their feet are growing right. It’s a lot of fun. I love it.”

"The Elves and the Shoemaker" is a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm about a poor shoemaker and his wife who are barely surviving with the small amount of money they make from the shoes. Then much to their surprise, every night the shoemaker starts a pair of shoes and by morning the shoes are magically complete. With this unseen help the shoemaker can provide the town with every kind of shoe and they soon become rich.

One night their curiosity gets the best of them and the shoemaker and his wife hide in hopes of finding out the secret. As they stand behind clothes in the closet they are surprised to see two little elves slip in through the window and get to work, sewing and hammering each shoe. Then after they’re done, the pair slip back out the way they came.

The shoemaker and his wife can hardly believe what they’ve seen. The wife tells her husband that they should do something in return for the elves since they have made them rich. The wife knits socks and makes clothes for the little elves and sits them out the next night. When the elves arrive to do their work they see the clothes, put them on and dance around the room.

That’s just what the kids started doing when they opened the packages and tried on their new shoes. They jumped up and down and ran around the classroom, excited to show them off.

“We so appreciate America First and the district support,” said Adelaide Principal Patty Arbon. “It’s a magical time. We have 44 kindergarteners. Lots of them are English Language Learners. It’s magical for them because some of them have never seen them (new shoes).”

“I like them,” said one child. “I can run in them.”

“I love the color,” said another. “It was fun to see the presents.”

“I’m excited for Christmas,” said Grant. “I want a hoverboard with handles and other random stuff.”

The shoes Grant got were too big but he waited patiently until someone from America First found him another pair which he tried on immediately. 

“This is an early present,” said one excited girl showing off her shoes. “It’s almost Christmas.”