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Katie Ann Powell, Miss Sandy, jokes with Lauren Wilson, Miss Utah, as she passes her a gift to put a bow on while they both work on gifts with Alexsys Campbell, Miss Deseret, left, during the It's A Wrap fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, held by Habitat For Humanity of Utah County at Provo Towne Centre in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Madison Monson, Miss Provo, wraps a gift during the It's A Wrap fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, held by Habitat For Humanity of Utah County at Provo Towne Centre in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lauren Wilson, Miss Utah, marvels jokingly at the bow Alexsys Campbell, Miss Deseret, made during the It's A Wrap fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 held by Habitat For Humanity of Utah County at Provo Towne Centre in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Carl Ringger, of Payson, takes the gifts volunteers wrapped for him home during the It's A Wrap fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 held by Habitat For Humanity of Utah County at Provo Towne Centre in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Alexsys Campbell, Miss Deseret, and Katie Ann Powell, Miss Sandy, sing "All I Want For Christmas Is You," to each other between wrapping gifts during the It's A Wrap fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 held by Habitat For Humanity of Utah County at Provo Towne Centre in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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T’was the morning before Christmas, and all through the Provo Towne Centre mall shoppers were scurrying for last-minute gifts.

There, with wrapping paper, bows and bags, were pageant queens from throughout Utah to lend a helping hand wrapping gifts before Christmas Day.

The queens had teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of Utah County to volunteer their time with others for the 9th annual It’s A Wrap gift-wrapping fundraiser. All proceeds from this year’s event will go toward building a home for a single mother in Provo with three children.

Volunteers from throughout the community have manned the gift-wrapping table every day this week at the mall.

“This year we have a lot of the queens throughout the state,” said Kena Mathews, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Utah County. “It’s a great volunteer opportunity around Christmas.”

Wrapping paper for the event was donated by Temkin International and other materials such as bows and ribbons were donated by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club.

“One of the things that the Miss America Organization focuses on is service. So, any chance we can to have a service project, we do it,” said Lauren Wilson, who currently reigns as Miss Utah.

According to Wilson, there are 53 pageant title-holders in Utah, and several have come throughout the week to lend a helping hand wrapping gifts.  

Wilson spearheaded the queens’ involvement when she asked Habitat For Humanity how local queens could help around the holidays. With a Facebook post from Wilson on the queens’ community page, ladies from around the state came together with other Habitat for Humanity volunteers to wrap up the Christmas season for shoppers.