Thanks to Cochrane Home Treasures, kids 12 and under can do their own Christmas shopping from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 12.
The store’s annual Kids Christmas event has been very successful over the past 10 years, according to organizers, and this year promises to be just as exciting.
“Last year, we had between 350 to 400 children, and our store is not very big,” said Barbara Primeau, chairperson of the Cochrane Home Treasures board. “It’s a great opportunity for us to give back to the community and let children come in and experience this part of the holiday season for themselves in a way that doesn’t cost a fortune.”
Children can pick five gifts for $5 for their parents, grandparents, or siblings, which will then be gift wrapped by staff and volunteers.
This year’s event will also fall on the same day as Cochrane’s Santa Claus Parade, so Primeau said there will be a little extra excitement in the air as the kids finish their shopping just in time to see Santa.
“The kids are given an amount of money to spend, but they get to pick out the gifts themselves,” Primeau said. “They are learning to pay for the things they want and they get to experience the real joy of being here, that Christmas spirit that comes with choosing a gift for someone you love.”
Parents are encouraged to try not to influence their children’s purchases, Primeau said, or to help them pay for it – the “elves” are at the store to help with all that.
While some children come in with lists at the ready, she said others will browse through the second-hand items in the store until they find just the right thing.
“We have all kinds of items for the kids to choose from, so they can find things their family members might like,” she said. “It’s not a very big store, but there’s a lot going on and it’s important for us to contribute something to our community this time of year.”
According to Primeau, the store has given over $58,000 back to the community so far in 2015. In addition to their Kids Christmas event, the store is also giving patrons the opportunity to contribute to a Christmas Wish program, for families who have fallen on hard times.
“When a community gives as much as this community gives to our store, giving back is just what we are all about,” she said. “It’s important to give back to people who have helped you out, and that’s what they’ve done. People donate to us, and in order to help them, we give back however we can.”
Cochrane Home Treasures will also be hosting a 50-per-cent off shopping event on Dec. 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the last sale of the year.
For more information on the Kids Christmas or Make-A-Wish program, contact the committee of Home Treasures at 403-851-9974 or [email protected]
