The elves are hard at work in Chestermere preparing for the Kids' Holiday Store Dec. 14. The event provides children with the chance to surprise the adults in their lives with hand-picked gifts.
“The Kids’ Holiday Store is a family-fun event that’s open to all Chestermere and area residents to come together and raise some money for basic needs,” said Danielle Fermin, manager of Community Support Services with the City of Chestermere.
The event is geared toward children ages four and up, who are encouraged to prepare a shopping list ahead of time. At the store, Fermin said, each child is paired with a store elf, who will help them with their shopping and assist with gift wrapping once the children have selected their presents. The store is for kids only and parents and caregivers will have to wait outside until the shopping trip is completed.
“The whole idea is to keep [the gifts] a surprise, making sure that each gift they’re purchasing is special for that individual they’re purchasing for,” she said.
This is the Kids’ Holiday Store’s 10th year, and Fermin said there are a few changes. While the event has taken place at City Hall in the past, the venue this year will be the Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre, as part of Chestermere Holiday Fun Day.
The store will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., and Fermin encouraged families to register online ahead of time by searching “Chestermere Kids’ Holiday Store” on eventbrite.ca. The event can accommodate approximately 200 kids, not including drop-ins.
“We did sell out two shopping time-slots,” she said. “There’s one more available [between 3 and 3:45 p.m.], but during the event, we have a few drop-in time-slots available. Because we’re changing up the venue, we’re anticipating more people stumbling upon our event.”
Registering allows families to enjoy the other activities taking place at the rec centre, rather than standing in line all day.
Each gift in the store costs $5, and upon registering their children, parents can exchange money for tokens that will be used on the shopping trip. For example, Fermin said, a child purchasing four gifts would need four tokens, totalling $20.
Families dropping in can exchange cash for tokens at the door.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the City’s Gifts of Kindness campaign, which Fermin said supports local individuals and families throughout the year.
“It could help individuals and families with getting their utility arrears paid off, medication, transportation, supporting women in crisis,” she said. “It’s to fill in the gap and [provide] funding that no other regional or provincial funds are available for.”
The store is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Gifts of Kindness campaign, and Fermin said the goal this year is to raise at least $18,000, overall – between $2,500 to $3,000 is generated through the store.
She added donations of new or gently-used items to be sold at the store will be accepted until Dec. 10 at Chestermere City Hall, Chestermere Community Operations or the Chestermere Public Library during regular business hours.
“We’re looking for gifts that could potentially be for an adult male, a grandmother, a mom,” Fermin said. “We do lack in the area, for donations, typically for adult males and male youth.”
