The Christmas Store of Cleveland County is a a 501 c (3) entity that offers a shopping opportunity for low-income persons who wish to create a meaningful Christmas for their families. Cleveland County families partner with community volunteers to prepare the store for shopping as a means of earning their selection of gifts and food for their Christmas. Gifts, food and funds are donated by great community partners who make this all-volunteer program work!
“It’s what the Christmas Spirit is all about!”
How The Christmas Store Works
Just before Christmas, the store is set up with donated time, money and merchandise. Here, low-income families can shop for food, toys, and household goods. They choose what their family needs, not what someone else thinks they should have. They can buy gifts and food with a fixed quota determined by the number of family members. The clients volunteer to help set up the Christmas Store. This allows families to plan their own Christmas and to maintain the self-respect of knowing that they contributed to their Christmas. Without the Christmas Store of Cleveland County, these families would not have food, toys, household items, or other gifts for Christmas.
The Christmas Store Clients
In November applications are taken from families living in the county with a total income of 133% of federal poverty guidelines. Eligible clients provide two hours of work to help set up the store before shopping for adults and children in their households. Exceptions to the income guidelines may be made for temporarily needy families in the case of fire, tornado or other crises. Referrals are often made by churches, DHS and individuals.
A Great Idea Was Born
The Christmas Store was a whole new kind of community Christmas program…..born in Cleveland County to fill a gap in services for low income households. It started in 1970 by Action, Inc., a non-profit organization funded both federally and locally to bring about more effective community social programs. Action, Inc. turned over the coordination of the Christmas Store to a board of community volunteers. Since then the program is totally locally funded.
Executive Committee
Justin Davis – Executive Director
Brad Hawkins – Director of Facilities
Charis Kobza – Director of Special Initiatives
Sandra Longcrier – Director of Outreach
David Payne – Director of Finance
Management Committee
Shirley Burnett – HUGs Manager
David Drennan – Office Co-Manager
Sandra Drennan – Office Co-Manager
Cheryl Hollingsworth – Households Manager
Sue Kirlin – Toys Co-Manager
Susan Nelson – Teens Manager
Jeani Olson – Toys Co-Manager
Cathy Roberts – Grocery Co-Manager and Volunteer Coordinator
Mari Roper – Seniors Manager
Amy Unger – Eligibility and Grocery Co-Manager
Volunteers Make The Christmas Store Happen
Donors, Volunteers and Community Partners. The all-volunteer Board coordinates the donations and volunteerism of area schools, OU, churches, service groups, merchants and individuals of Cleveland County. It joins all of these groups and individuals into one powerful community effort to give more help to larger numbers of people at Christmas. The appeal for donations of money, food, gifts and time continue to be answered from all segments and income levels of our community.
