Help the Romo Elves Spread Cheer this Christmas

Our father always loved Christmas and paid much mind to how he could help those who may be less fortunate than our family during the holiday season. He truly wanted to spread cheer and good will, and his enthusiasm was infectious. One of his first big ideas was decorating a huge fir tree in the middle of a highway intersection by the dark of the night to bring a smile to the daily passerby's. As we grew up, we all wanted to do more. We would designate an "Elfing" day each year in which we'd dress up as...you guessed it, elves, and set out to do as much good in one day as we could. Elfing was different each year - one year we gave out donuts and Dunkins gift cards for coffee to over 500 homeless in Downtown Crossing and on the Boston subway system. Another year we distributed backpacks with hygiene essentials, hats, and gloves to the homeless living under the bridges in Methuen, many of them the same age as my siblings and I. Every year our love of the Elfing tradition deepened. In the last year of my father's life, our Elfing day was spent at Hampstead Hospital , the hospital he worked at for over 30 years. We visited the Acute Psychiatric Unit and Intensive Behavioral Unit for children, reading them books, handing out sweets, and delivering gifts specially picked with each individual child in mind. Seeing as many of these children undergoing intensive inpatient care don't get to go home for the holidays, it was especially magical to feel like we were bringing the holidays to them.

This year my siblings and I plan on continuing the Elfing tradition and returning to Hampstead Hospital in my father's memory. We invite our friends and family to contribute to this fund which will be used towards purchasing Christmas presents for the 40+ children in the unit, as well as for supplies for gingerbread house making and a hot chocolate bar.

With love and thanks,

Grace, Rachel, Jacob & Lucas