ELKINS — A group of local volunteers recently helped members of the “Elfkins” committee prepare 48 pine wreaths that will be part of this year’s holiday Christmas decorations in downtown Elkins.

The volunteers followed the lead of Kathy Vance, who has been instrumental in the decorating of downtown Elkins for many years. The wreaths will be placed around Elkins Town Square, Railroad Avenue, Martin Street and Fourth Street during the upcoming holiday season.

Elkins resident Bobbi Trimboli said she received a call seeking help with the wreaths, and that it took her very little time to find others to contribute their time.

“I was at an Elfkins meeting with Kathy (Vance) and I told her I would find some volunteers to work on the wreaths,” Trimboli said. “So I started making some calls and all these wonderful people wanted to help out. The wreaths had already been made so we just fluffed them up, put new bows on some of them, and replaced some lights on the ones that had lights. We wanted to make them look nice for the holidays.”

Sara Phares, Vickie Keller, Summer Kirk-Swanson, Cameron Kirk, Lucinda Barrick, Betsy Smith, Wayne Keplinger, Susie Nestor Wagoner, Vance and Trimboli made up the group of volunteers.

The wreaths and other decorations are expected to start going up sometime around the Thanksgiving Holiday, just in time for the second annual “Blue Christmas” celebration honoring first responders on Nov. 29 and the annual Christmas parade on Dec. 5.

The first responder tribute will take place at Elkins City Hall and is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The parade, which is slated to begin at 6 p.m., will conclude in Town Square where a brand new artificial Christmas tree will be lit for the holiday season. The tree lighting will be done by Joyce Allen and Greg Hadjis, president of J.F. Allen Company.