The Hillcrest School Christmas Store continues to be an important way for young people to learn about the value of giving and for people to support the school.
The store was set up in the school’s former computer lab from Monday to Thursday. Students were able to make three separate trips to the store, and each time, select a gift for someone they love, whether it be a parent, a sibling, a grandparent, a friend or someone else. The items available in the store were donated by people in the community.
“We have so many donations from the community, both new and gently used items, so the kids have lots and lots of choices here again. Our community has just been awesome,” said Jillian Ursu, a co-ordinator and a volunteer for the Christmas Store.
A variety of items were available for the children to choose from as well.
Ursu believes the number of donations was higher than in past years.
“They have a lot of people to shop for, and they’re super excited about it,” said Ursu.
Cash donations were also made to the store, and the school purchased items they might be short of.
“Often times, we run low on items for men, so they’ll get some items for them to help out the men’s table that we have in the store,” said Ursu.
Once the students selected a gift, they took it to the store’s elves – adult volunteers who wrapped gifts and delivered it back to the students that day so that the students could take the gifts home with them. Several elves are working in the store at one time, and Ursu believes they have about a dozen volunteers in total, with some who have been there before and others who were working in the store for the first time.
Donations came in for the Christmas Store even after it opened on Monday.
“Sometimes the kids will come in and say ‘Hey, that wasn’t here the last time I was in,’ … and so that’s been kind of exciting.”
In previous years, the items would be delivered to the students all at once, after the store was wrapped up for the year, but now they take the item home the same day they select it.
“We found that it was a little overwhelming for the younger ones especially to be taking home three gifts at a time.”
The change has been working really well.
Ursu believes the Hillcrest Store is important because it involves the community within the school.
“At this time of Christmas, and we’re encouraging giving, the kids get to have a part in that first-hand. So they come into the store, they think about that special someone that they’re shopping for, and it gets them to really think about other people and shop for those people.”
The students continue to provide excellent feedback regarding the store. While most students had experienced the store at least once before this year, and the older students have gone through every year they’ve been at Hillcrest, it’s a thrill for first-time students, including kindergartens. “It’s always such a joy to watch the kids as they come in the store. Their eyes get wide. They’re so excited. And to know that they get to go in there and choose something for a family member or a close friend and that they don’t have to pay anything for it, it’s pretty exciting to watch how they are just so excited about it.”
Kids finished going through on Thursday afternoon, and then the school hoped to open the store to Hillcrest families that night to wrap the store up for another year.
