Santa’s elves on Main Street want to wrap presents for the good girls and boys of Ames, but the children can’t find them.

“It’s been disappointing for [Volunteer Center of Story County] because not many people have gotten their gifts wrapped,” said Mary Kearns, a Santa’s Workshop helper. “People just don’t seem to know it’s here.”

Kelly Wiech, volunteer coordinator for the Volunteer Center of Story County, said the workshop, at 131 Main St., is normally located in North Grand Mall but had to relocate this year because the mall brought in another company.

She said Main Street was selected as the new location because downtown businesses wanted it. The move has been costly, she added.

“We normally raise $5,000 to $6,000,” Wiech said. “We’ll be lucky if we make $1,000.”

Santa’s Workshop, decorated with Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments, snowmen, reindeer and snowflakes, raises money for the center.

Volunteers wrap presents throughout the week, and children can visit Santa Claus and have their picture taken every Saturday and Sunday when he makes visits to the workshop. His volunteers are available throughout the week.

Wiech said volunteers are available daily to wrap gifts until Dec. 23. It costs $2 for small gifts, $2.75 for medium gifts, such as a shirt box, $3.50 for large gifts and $4 for extra-large presents. Aside from wrapping presents, children can have their pictures taken and framed with Santa for $5, she said.

Besides raising money for the volunteer center, Santa’s Workshop is accepting monetary donations for Seasons of Giving, a nine-year program that benefits low-income families, Kearns said.

The organization will be giving away toys, clothing, books and art supplies to children this weekend, as well as blankets and $20 food vouchers to parents at the distribution site, which is located at the former Campus Baptist Church, 130 S. Sheldon Ave.

On Sunday, volunteers will be delivering gifts and non-perishable food items to the elderly and disabled, Wiech said.

“People can donate cash or food [at the distribution site],” she said. “We don’t get enough clothing either.”

The volunteer center is also searching for Santa’s elves, gift wrappers, table help, photographers and Santas to help with the workshop.

“Anyone can help, except the Santas have to go through a criminal background check. The elves greet the children and get names, hand out candy canes and comfort the children who are crying,” Wiech said.

The workshop is open for gift wrapping from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It is also open for gift wrapping and pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays, Wiech said.

She also said if there are enough volunteers on a certain day, gift wrappers would be available from noon to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Santa would stop by from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about volunteering or the program, visit the Volunteer Center for Story County’s Web site at users.crosspaths.net/~volunteer_story/index.html or call 232-2736.