Christmas store helps kids shop for families

Every year, a few weeks before Christmas, the children at Canyon Elementary flood into a classroom filled with toys, books, camping gear, tools, Hot Wheels cars, spatulas, frames, board games and calendars.

The Canyon Elementary Christmas Store provides the students with an opportunity to shop for their family members in secret, so the children too can surprise their relatives with gifts under the tree Christmas morning.

“A lot of kids wouldn’t have the opportunity to get something for their family if we didn’t have it here at school,” said Brandee Padgham, a Canyon Elementary parent and member of the Parent-Teacher Organization.

Every object in the room, from Harry Potter books to Barbie dolls to stamping kits to Mary Kay beauty products, is just a dollar each. Many of the items, like the board games and Barbies, were donated. Others were purchased at the Dollar Tree and Dollar Plus.

“We purchase the items for a dollar and stock the store according to how many kids are here,” said Cassandra Schmidt, a parent and PTO president. “Our store is to help little kids shop for their families without them being with their parents.”

The Christmas Store has happened every year since Canyon Elementary opened in the 1980s, and the tradition stretches back even longer than that. The Hungry Horse, Martin City and Coram schools all had Christmas stores for their students.

When the children bound into the room, parent volunteers like Padgham, Schmidt and Jamie Foster help the kids go through their lists, carefully selecting presents for Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers, Grandma and Grandpa. The parents help the kids manage their dollars and gently discourage children who try to buy Hot Wheels for, say, Uncle Bob.

“Does your Grandma really like stamps?” one of the women asked a little boy last week as he perused tables filled with toys and books.

“I think so, but if she doesn’t I can have them!” the child responded brightly.

Smiling knowingly, one of the women helped the boy pick a more appropriate gift. The parent volunteers also wrap the presents for the children.

“The kids are always excited for the store,” Schmidt said.

Many of the kids seem besides themselves with glee, letting their eyes wander over the picture books, balls and stuffed animals. Some of the students seriously choose the perfect gifts for their families, perusing through socks, gloves, ice picks, hot mitts and bungee cords.

This year, the students flooded the store the first day it was open, Wednesday, and purchased more than 500 gifts for their families. A few students went through Thursday and Friday is reserved for buying those tempting Barbies or reptile books for themselves.

And for the few students who can’t afford to buy anything, the parent volunteers take them around the store and allow them to select gifts for their families for free.

“It’s just like any tradition you do with your family,” Schmidt said. “(The children) look forward to it all year. It’s fun and exciting.”