Santa has many helpers, especially at this time of year, and one of them is the local Dark Elf on the Shelf.
Local activist and MerB’ys founder, Hassan Hai, is the man behind the leggings and striped suit. He says the elf is always a very discrete and elegant addition to any surface around the holidays.
That surface is usually a desk or display at a local business. Hai props himself on a surface where people are going about their daily tasks and poses candidly as he decides if they have been naughty or nice.
Although the motive is to raise money for food banks, businesses can earn some traction by inviting the little friend along.
He says he would imagine that most businesses would book the elf and donate out of the kindness of their hearts but a natural tradeoff is that he will go out and promote their business. Hai says he does not share how much money each business donates.
In the past couple of years, funds raised online from the elf have gone towards Bridges to Hope – a food aid assistance program.
He says the meaning behind it makes it a fun way for people to give to their community.
He says without any context, seeing a brown bearded guy sitting on a counter, people just bust out laughing but when they figure out what it is about, it is even more funny.