The decorations matter, but so does the company. Fix-It Friday Holiday Workshop Elves Jordan Ryan (left) and Jennifer Lee (right) helped transform the home of Margaret Ellis (center).
Every Friday this December, a group of recent college graduates are trading textbooks for tinsel. Together, they’ve launched the Fix-It Friday Elves, a volunteer effort to decorate the homes of elderly residents across Northern Virginia who can’t manage the ladders, lights and garlands themselves.
What began as three friends helping a neighbor has quickly grown into a team, each carving out time from new jobs and graduate school applications to make sure holiday traditions don’t fade for those who need a hand. Their mission is simple: to keep treasured decorations glowing and spirits lifted.
“My grandmother always said the holidays are about light in dark times,” said Daniel Ruiz, one of the founding volunteers. “We realized some of our neighbors couldn’t safely put up their decorations anymore. So we thought, ‘why not bring that light to them?’”
The group’s work is hands-on and heartfelt. They haul boxes of ornaments from attics, untangle strings of lights, and gingerly place heirloom decorations on trees. For many seniors, the service is more than just festive décor. It’s companionship and a reminder that their traditions matter.
“I used to dread December because I couldn’t climb up to hang my lights,” said Margaret Ellis, a 88-year-old widow whose Herndon home now sparkles with garland. “These young people brought back the joy. When I see my tree lit up, I feel like my husband is still here celebrating with me.”
The workshop has quickly become a neighborhood ritual. Word spread through church bulletins, community boards, and word of mouth. Requests poured in, and the friends now schedule multiple homes each Friday, balancing their new careers with this seasonal act of service.
“It’s not just about decorations, it’s about holiday spirit and helping the elderly maintain their decorating traditions,” explained Sofia Patel, another volunteer who lives in her parents’ home in Arlington. “We want people to feel proud of their homes, to walk into their living rooms and see the glow of the holidays. That glow belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford help.”
New members like Jordan Ryan and Jennifer Lee, both of whom live in Vienna, joined after hearing about the project, expanding the group’s reach. With more hands, they’ve decorated nearly 20 homes in Alexandria this season, from small apartments to sprawling porches.
The volunteers say the work is as rewarding for them as it is for the seniors. “We’re building community in the most tangible way,” said Lee. “Every time we plug in a string of lights and see someone’s face light up, it reminds us why we’re here.”
Neighbors have taken notice. Some drop off cookies or hot chocolate for the crew, others stop by to watch the transformation. The sight of young people climbing ladders and laughing together while hanging wreaths has become a symbol of holiday spirit.
“They didn’t just hang lights. They lit up my heart,” said Ellis.
The Fix-It Friday Holiday Workshop has already brightened more than two dozen homes this season, and the friends say they hope to continue the tradition in years to come. They envision expanding to other neighborhoods, perhaps even training volunteers to replicate the model.
For now, though, they’re focused on finishing December strong. With graduation behind them and careers ahead, these graduates are proving that the glow of the holidays isn’t just about bulbs and garland—it’s about community, kindness, and the joy of giving.
“It’s not just about decorations, it’s about holiday spirit and helping the elderly maintain their decorating traditions.”
— Sofia Patel, volunteer