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Church's Christmas Shop a Holiday Gift to Community

enlarge>> Wrapping gifts after shopping

Written: 10/29/2009

The Fellowship Thrift Shop, a ministry of Leitchfield United Methodist Church (Elizabethtown District), is getting ready for our Christmas Shop. Out go the clothes and household items usually found in the Thrift Shop. All tables are covered with Christmas tablecloths, and an array of gifts donated by members and others in the community are separated into their proper categories.  If a child is approved as an “Angel Tree” child, that child is given a ticket with a date and time to shop for the adults in her family. After she selects her gifts, volunteers are waiting to help her wrap the presents.

The family is waiting for their children (with children younger than 5) in the living room of our Fellowship

enlarge>> Jerry Wagner fills a shoe, sock, and underwear order.

House where cookies, cheese and crackers, and drinks are provided by other volunteers. Santa is also present and he brings his own digital camera and printer so that a picture of the family can be given before everyone leaves. Santa gives each child a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” bag of goodies that includes a toothbrush and toothpaste as well as chocolate.

The youth of our church serve as shoppers with each family, going into the shop and helping make big decisions. Some prefer wrapping gifts, and others serve as “runners” with the shoe orders and filled bags.

The family fills out an application with ages and sizes, while another group of volunteers is busy picking out the correct size of new shoes, socks, and underwear.  These are put into a black plastic bag so that the family can give this as a surprise for the children who are shopping. This wonderful ministry is made possible by an anonymous donor who has been blessed financially and believes in giving back to the Lord. This year, he is also giving us 100 new winter coats as gifts.

Our United Methodist Women are busy in the fall, collecting and filling 150 Mommy Bags, which are medium-sized gift bags with lotion, body wash, shampoo, and other luxury these moms would not buy for themselves. Each family gets one Mommy Bag as they are leaving. We expect to serve at least 325 children this year on December 5 and 12.

Pat Wagner
 

This news story is related to:
Leitchfield church
Elizabethtown district