FAMILY CHRISTMAS SHOP The Family Christmas Shop is a ministry of United Presbyterian Church to assist families and bring hope in the name of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Last year UPC helped provide fifty five families, over one hundred and ten children, with a wonderful Christmas. We hope to expand the ministry this year!
The Family Christmas Shop is a store in the UPC gym filled with unwrapped presents for children (infant- 12 years of age). Parents are be able to ‘shop’ for toys, books, art supplies, games, coats, hats, mittens, socks, sweaters, and other fun things. Parents are given a certain number of tickets per child and can purchase presents with those tickets. While the parents are shopping, volunteers assist the children to create crafts they can give their parents as a gift. A nursery is provided for smaller children under four years of age.
When families check in they receive their tickets and enter to win raffle prizes. They then are seated for a family portrait. A photographer takes their picture and then sends out finished portraits later that week. Snacks are set up in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy while we wait for everyone to arrive. Each family also receives supplies for a great Christmas dinner including a large ham when they finish shopping.
We work with local agencies like the Peoria Children’s Home to identify families who could use some extra help at Christmas. Beginning in October, the congregation brings in presents to donate. Our goal is to have over 500 gifts for parents to choose from and for each child to be able to receive more than one gift. Examples of gifts are coloring books, picture books, books for older children, art supplies, toys, dolls, games, coats, sweaters, socks, mittens, footballs, action figures, school supplies, baby toys and books, baby supplies, and anything else a child up to 12 years of age would love. We encourage people to think big and think generously.
The youth of the church sort the gifts each week and put color-coded stickers on them to identify how many tickets that gift costs. On the day of the Family Christmas Shop volunteers help parents find gifts, assist them in checking out their gifts, wrap their presents, work with their children in the craft room, work in the nursery, hand out food bags, and provide the snacks.
This year the Family Christmas Shop will be Saturday, December 10th from 4:00-6:00 P.M. A sign-up sheet to help is located at the Church Welcome Center. If you would like more information on how you can help please contact the church office. A video of previous Family Christmas Shops can be seen below. none |