Santa will once again be visiting homes in the Foothills with a sack full of gifts, thanks to the Magic of Christmas.

Donna Cameron, Magic of Christmas Foothills Division Coordinator, says the Magic of Christmas elves are busy making preparations for this year's deliveries.

She says gifts will be wrapped in December and this year's delivery of gifts to referred families will take place on December 16th.

"Everything gets put in place before that," Cameron explains. "The buses are organized, the wrapping elves are organized and the elves for the bus are organized and then away we go to different families."

The Foothills division of the Magic of Christmas will deliver Christmas gifts to families in Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and High River. Recipient families are referred to the program by others in the community. Gifts are chosen for each member of the referred household and then wrapped by the elf helpers.

Cameron says gift delivery day is a wonderful experience for all involved.

"It is a joyous visit," she explains. "It takes their minds off the problems, or whatever is happening in their lives, for an hour or so. The kids are extremely excited to see the elves and Santa."

The Magic of Christmas is currently accepting donations of new, unwrapped gifts or gift cards at their donation boxes at Monkey Mountain Toys and Games, Alberta Treasury Branch, Village Lane Dental and Fountain Tire.

Anyone wishing to help wrap gifts is asked to contact Jennifer Weisgerber at jenweisgerber@gmail.com.