Wrap It Up! event ends in a flurry of paper and tape

Reza Peigahi, Kara Synhorst, Susana Siqueira and
Tracy Fisk were among the volunteers participating
in 2007's Wrap It Up! event.

Originally scheduled to last five hours, Volunteers of America's 2007 Wrap It Up! event "wrapped up" hours early thanks to an army of more than 40 "elves" who proved industrious beyond all expectations.

Spread out throughout the conference rooms and offices of Volunteers of America's administration suite, the volunteers merrily took on the task of wrapping the hundreds of new hats, scarves, gloves, socks and ponchos donated during the Gift of Warmth drive.

The gifts will be given to homeless men and women on Christmas Day at Volunteeers of America's Winter Shelter, A Street Shelter and Bannon Street Shelter.

Some formal groups were represented, including the Girl Scouts and the Sutter Middle School SCOPE program. But many were simply friends who get together each year to volunteer at Christmas, such as Kelley McDonald, 13-year-old son Cody, Doug Kleinsmith and Sally Adam.

"This is the fourth year we've wrapped together," said McDonald.