BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is spreading holiday cheer with its annual Adopt an Elf program.

The program is a community tradition that aims to make the season brighter for students in need, including those experiencing homelessness. 

Community members can visit the website to adopt an elf or buy gifts and items from students' holiday wish lists. 

"The Adopt an Elf program is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together to support its children," said Superintendent LaMont Cole. “We are grateful to everyone who opens their hearts and gives their time and resources to help ensure our students feel valued, remembered and loved during the holidays." 

To adopt an elf, residents must visit the website, select an elf and review the student's gift wish list before shopping for the requested items and placing them in a gift bag. 

All gifts must be delivered to Broadmoor Elementary School from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EBR Schools employees and volunteers will organize, sort and wrap the donated gifts before delivering them to students in time for winter break.