by Joy Doolin R.N.

The Christmas Store is a non-profit organization that helps provide a better Christmas ( or even any Christmas at all) for the impoverished needy residents of Clay County. The goal of the Store is to provide free food, clothing, household supplies and Christmas gifts to entitled clients. The clients are screened by government agencies and churches to determine eligibility.

The Store opened in 1988 at the St. James Lutheran Church. Due to the increasing numbers of clients and demands, it expanded and moved to the North Cross United Methodist Church on Vivion Road in 1989. Every year since then, it is open for 3-5 days in December. In was in 1992 when the store first helped more than 1,000 families in the facility and delivered the goods to 150 homebound families. Operating only for 3 days December 1996, the Store assisted 1006 needy families.

Volunteers manage the facility and Ms. Marge Robinson directs its operation. The huge facility is divided into sections like any store. Volunteers guide and help clients fill their carts with food, household supplies, clothing and gifts AT NO CHARGE.. Over 750 individuals promised to help but only ¾ of the numbers showed up.

It was a mild and cool December 10, 1996 when Sonia Tumanut , Vicky Herrera and I volunteered to help. We had a choice as to what to do. Baby-sit the very young children, help parents to do their shopping, assist older children to pick their gifts for their parents, or offer to serve snacks and drinks to the tired shoppers. We volunteered to wrap the gifts.

Personally, I had fun volunteering at the Christmas Store. It was a joy to see little children pick out their special gifts for mom and dad. Their eyes sparkle as I carefully wrap their gifts. I encourage you, my friends, to share a few hours of your time and volunteer at the Christmas Store in l997. If you like to shop, entertain, or just have fun with the kids, this one is for you. And this shopping won’t even cost you a cent.