Santa’s Gift Shop event to see changes this year

The Junior Auxiliary of Taney County has announced changes to their annual holiday event.

Instead of following their tradition of hosting a public Santa’s Gift House event, allowing children to shop for their loved ones and purchasing gifts at very low prices, the nonprofit organization will hold three separate private Santa's Gift House events: one at Elevate Branson, one at Bradleyville Elementary and the other at Mark Twain Elementary School.

According to JATC member Sheryl Schiller, the change in this year's Santa's Gift House event will allow children who may not have had the opportunity to experience Santa's Gift House in the past to participate in this year's fun.  

Children at each of the three locations will be able to shop for gifts, most of which were made by JATC members. JATC members will help the children shop and then assist in wrapping the gifts the children have selected.

"We want the kids to be able to shop for gifts themselves, instead of having parents buy something and say it was from the child," Schiller explained. "We think this means more to the child when they've actually picked out the gifts themselves. We want them to learn the joy of giving."

Schiller continued, "There will be a variety of gifts—Diamond Dotz pictures or coasters or magnets, movie nights, shadow boxes, jewelry, puzzles, yarn wreaths, wall hangings, baby dolls in hand crocheted blankets, candles, key rings, treasure boxes, wind chimes, fidget gadgets, Gone Hunting and Gone Fishing signs, floral arrangements, ball caps, candy jars, mini spa sets, denim purses, sling bags, koozies, etc."

Each child can select up to four gifts for family and loved ones. Another change this year is that the children will receive the gifts at no charge, unlike the fifty cents per gift charged in years' past.

The Junior Auxiliary of Taney County, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in our area, began their annual Santa's Gift House project in 2010, making this the 16th year that the organization has hosted the holiday happening.

Santa's Gift House will be set up for the children of Elevate Branson on December 9. They will travel to Mark Twain Elementary on December 16, and visit the students of Bradleyville Elementary on December 17.

The Junior Auxiliary of Taney County appreciates Central Bank for their help in sponsoring this worthwhile event.