Holiday Shoppe will provide gifts for low-income families

Nov. 02, 2009

For 635 children last year in Bremer County, the Holiday Shoppe was Santa’s helper, providing gifts for low-income families.

The tradition continues this year with 25 students from the Wartburg College Social Work Department again taking on elf-like roles — volunteering, soliciting donations and coordinating shopping — for the Dec. 7-8 event at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly.

The gift-giving operation started by the Bremer County office of the state Department of Human Services has gradually come under the auspices of students in the Wartburg College Social Work Department. It is now the Wartburg Holiday Shoppe — a joint venture with the Bremer County DHS, which provides the names of potential recipients, and the Wartburg Student Athletic Advisory Committee.

“For more than 20 years, many people assumed the Holiday Shoppe was run by Wartburg, and now it is,” said Dr. Susan Vallem, professor of social work. “The Wartburg Holiday Shoppe has grown to be part of two social work classes with 25 students coordinating the effort.”

Students are soliciting contributions. Their goal is to match last year’s total of $10,000. Organizations and churches that sponsor “giving or angel” trees augment donations from businesses and individuals. The Holiday Shoppe received an early boost from CUNA, $2,000, and Walmart, $1,500.

The students shop during the first week in December with an eye toward appropriate gifts for the children (infants through 18). Families are sent invitations to do their shopping — with day care provided. Each family gets a large gift, two small gifts, a book, a board game and toiletries.

The families are appreciative.

“I’m thankful to everyone as some of us continue to try to recover from the flood,” wrote a recipient last year. “If it wasn’t for the Holiday Shoppe, my son probably wouldn’t have a Christmas at all,” stated another. “I appreciate this so much in my time of need. Thank you,” wrote a beneficiary.

Contributions to the Wartburg Holiday Shoppe can be sent to the Wartburg Development Office, 100 Wartburg Blvd., Waverly, IA 5077. Checks can be made out to the Wartburg Holiday Shoppe or Wartburg College and designated for the Holiday Shoppe. Donations are tax-deductible.