A campaign run by volunteers
"Santa's Helpers" (Ajutoarele lui Moș Crăciun) is the campaign of the Apel la Acțiune association in Satu Mare. People receive a letter from a child living in the county's children's homes or in a family in need, buy the gift the child asked for and bring it to the collection point. The first nine editions gathered more than 5,500 gifts, with over 6,000 "elves" taking part.
This year there are more than 1,000 letters: from over 150 children in the homes and over 900 children from low-income families. The site has a single job: turn a visitor into an elf who asks for a letter.
A story in six chapters
Instead of an NGO page with the usual sections, the site is a story read from top to bottom: the memory of a childhood Christmas, the children who are waiting, the letter, the numbers, the needs beyond gifts and, at the end, your turn.
Each chapter has illustrations, snow, fairy lights that switch on as you scroll and optional sleigh bells. From the very first view, a countdown shows how many days are left until the event on 10 December.
A letter from Santa, in your name
In chapter three the site asks for your name and shows you a letter from Santa addressed to you, which unfolds as you scroll. From the letter you go straight to the form for requesting a child's letter.
The steps fit in four lines: ask for a letter, fulfil the wish, hand over the gift, Santa takes it from there. For anyone who prefers to come in person, the address of Santa's Workshop is listed.
The visitor stops reading about elves. They get a letter and become one.
Beyond gifts
The last chapters show what the homes are missing, from boilers and appliances to furniture and computers, and how some rooms looked before and after renovations paid for by donations, with a slider to compare them.
At the end come all the ways to help: the bank account for donations, Form 230 for redirecting 3.5% of income tax, social media and the films of past editions.
