Noah Gerding got a little choked up Tuesday as chipper Amazon employees, dressed as elves, unloaded $15,000 worth of Christmas gifts, diapers, portable cribs, coats and other supplies from a truck wrapped like a present and marched them into Minnesota's largest homeless shelter for families.
"The average age of a child staying in shelter is just 6 years old," said Gerding, development director for People Serving People in downtown Minneapolis, as he touched his heart and paused to regain his composure.
The supplies and toys donated, he said, would "provide joy to families experiencing homelessness at one of the most traumatic and uncertain times in their lives."
The elves, who work at Amazon's fulfillment center in Shakopee, then joined with Santa and Mrs. Claus to pass out toys, decorate cookies and visit with preschool-aged children in People Serving People's early childhood classes.
The delivery was the final stop on Amazon's Miles for Smiles campaign, a 33-city national philanthropy tour launched this holiday season by the online retailer.
Nationally, Amazon has given away $500,000 worth of goods and made a $50,000 donation to the nonprofit National Alliance to End Homelessness.
This is the second year that Amazon has organized a holiday philanthropy tour.
People Serving People offers 99 hotel-style units for homeless families. About 350 people stay there each night.
![A young resident of Minneapolis shelter "People Serving People" didn't quite know how to handle the excitement of sitting with Santa Claus and Carol Christmas Tuesday morning. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The Amazon "sleigh," a semi truck filled with toys and essential items, stopped by Minneapolis shelter "People Serving People" to give away $15,000 worth of goods to needy families on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/WCT6H7QNPU4RBOD65I6KIF45XE.jpg?&w=1080)
![From left, Sara Citrano, Garrett DuPont and Katie Sand, employees at Amazon's Shakopee fulfillment center, worked on unloading Amazon's "sleigh," a semi truck filled with toys and essential items, which were given to families living at People Serving People in downtown Minneapolis. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The Amazon "sleigh," a semi truck filled with toys and essential items, stopped by Minneapolis shelter "People Serving People" to give away $15,000 worth of goods](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/GFXOZGQDTIBUQDAHKYP2RFEUOM.jpg?&w=1080)
