BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor Elves struck the Queen City again Saturday morning, handing out Christmas cheer, candy canes and cash to unsuspecting strangers.
Members of the group, who sought to hide their identities by donning elf hats, stopped at restaurants, laundromats, nursing homes and stores around the city. Some elves even set up a makeshift community center in Pickering Square, where they gave away hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, coats, toothbrushes and personal care items, along with hot coffee.
Heath Leighton, owner of the Dollar Store on Union Street, called the Bangor Daily News to report the elves had hit his store.
“They dropped in here and started handing out $50 bills to customers,” he said. “Some were in tears. I was shocked. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
The last time the Bangor Elves surfaced in the city was a year ago, when they perpetrated a similar spree of joy-spreading. The gang first was sighted three years ago. Since then, the Bangor Elves have raised and distributed more than $5,000 during each holiday season.
The elves reportedly conspired at approximately 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning in Brewer, then broke into three groups and headed across the Penobscot River to hit three area restaurants for breakfast. Chris Longtin, aka “The President,” and five other elves went to Dysart’s Restaurant & Flatbed Pub on Broadway.
After drawing a few stares because of their elfish headgear, the party attempted to blend in by ordering and eating breakfast. But when waitress Christy Morrell settled up their bills, the elves handed her a $100 bill, a stuffed elf attired entirely in red and green and piece of paper that read “You’ve been elfed.”
“Oh, my gosh, this is too much,” Morrell of Hampden said as the elves made their escape.
The waitress confessed she had not finished her Christmas shopping and most likely would spend the money on a gift for a family member.
“I feel overjoyed, very surprised and very blessed,” Morrell said.
The elves next struck the Laundry Basket on Husson Avenue. There, they confronted patrons and handed them stuffed elves and pieces of paper identical to the ones they left at Dysart’s. Instead of $100 bill, they handed people rolls of quarters.
“It was a wonderful surprise,” Greg Sereyko of Bangor said as the elves headed across the road to Ross Manor. “I’ve never been elfed before, and he’s cute.”
Sereyko said the quarters paid for the drying of his laundry.
“We’re going to pass it along and do a good deed for someone,” Dan Belyea of Bangor, who was doing laundry with Sereyko, said.
Down in Pickering Square, Betty Cottle of Bangor picked out coats for her mother and brother, who are disabled.
“This helps me out a lot,” she said.
The elves passed through the Queen City relatively quick. By noon, the only trace of the Bangor Elves to be found was the good deeds they left behind.