Christmas Store serves the local community during the holiday season by empowering parents and guardians to be the heroes at Christmas. Families who find themselves in a challenging season are invited to shop for their children’s Christmas gifts at a reduced cost at a pop up store. Then they can truthfully say on Christmas morning, “I picked this out and bought this for you.” The Christmas Store is all about dignity, choice, and making parents the heroes at Christmas.
We want to host our shoppers really well and provide a personalized experience every step of the way. Once our guests choose 2 gifts per child, a volunteer will wrap them and load them into their vehicle. While parents wait, we’ll serve hot drinks and cookies, and parents can pick up food from our pantry at no cost.
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Pick up a tag in our church lobby or shop our Amazon list. Click the button below to shop our Amazon wish list.
Your financial generosity allows us to purchase additional gifts not collected through our church and community toy drives.
We would love to have you serve at Christmas Store. Click the button below to register to serve at Christmas Store.
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS?
What happens at Christmas Store?
After choosing two main gifts, Parents and Guardians can select stocking stuffers and other free items for their kiddos from The Christmas Store.
The main gifts are wrapped and a tag is placed on the gifts so that the parents and guardians can add the name of their child with a special note in their own handwriting, giving the parents full ownership of the process as well.
Why do parents have to pay for gifts when they’ve been donated?
The $5 cost per gift is not about the value of the item—it’s about the value of dignity. By paying a small amount, parents and guardians can take pride in selecting and purchasing gifts for their children. They can take pride in saying, “I got this for you,” instead of feeling like it was just a handout.
This makes parents/guardians the heroes of their child’s Christmas—not the donors or volunteers. The Christmas Store is all about coming alongside families, preserving their dignity, and empowering them to create a meaningful Christmas.
Can my kids volunteer?
While we can’t allow young kids at the event for safety and logistical reasons, responsible teens as young as 13 are welcome to help in select positions alongside a parent. Most volunteer roles, however, require teens to be at least 16 years old.
Thank you for understanding as we work to ensure a safe and smooth experience for everyone involved!
How do families sign up to participate?
We don’t have a public application link. Instead, our Christmas Store is included on resource lists shared by schools and organizations across the area, so families in need can apply. Some families also hear about it through word-of-mouth. Applications are open between September and November. If you’d like to request an application during that window, email us at Christmasstore@rocky.church
How do I sign up to volunteer?
It’s easy! Simply click on the “sign up to serve” button below and choose a position and shift that works best for you.
There are several ways to get involved:
- Inventory Days: Help inventory donated toys.
- Set Up Crew: Decorate and organize The Christmas Store.
- Personal Shoppers: Assist families with the shopping process
- Gift Wrappers: Transform gifts into festive masterpieces!
- Spanish Speakers: Assist Spanish-speaking families.
- Runners: Deliver gifts to and from wrapping stations.
- Clean Up/Breakdown Crew: Help pack up and clean after the event.
- Pantry: Assist families with picking out food and keep the pantry stocked
- Toy Room: Restock gifts and check families out
What is the time commitment if I sign up?
It depends! If you sign up for shift at the event, the time commitment is 3.5-4 hours. If you sign up for inventory days, the time commitment is between 1-3 hours depending on your availability.