One of the longer standing traditions in Yelm will return from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, as the Yelm Lions will host the 13th annual Christmas Store at the Yelm Lions Carlson Cabin, 301 W. Yelm Ave.
The Yelm Lions Club’s Christmas Store will coincide with the annual Christmas in the Park parade, creating a fun lineup of festive activities for area residents. The organization will provide participants with a free pancake breakfast and a cup of hot cocoa during the annual event.
“I love this event. This has really become a community favorite, just by the fact we’re 13 years into it. Anybody can come, which is what I love,” said Christy Garcia, longtime Yelm Lions Club board member. “We want all community members to come and participate. Some are able to throw a donation into the pot, and some aren’t able to, but that doesn’t matter at all to us. We just want all families to be able to come and enjoy the event.”
In addition to a warm and hearty pancake breakfast, Yelm Lions Club will also open the Christmas Store for children under the age of 12 to shop for free and pick out a free gift for the adults in their households. Upon arrival, children will be escorted to gift tables where they’ll be able to shop for a gift with the assistance of Lions members and local Boy Scout assistants.
“I love seeing the kids’ faces as they pick out a favorite gift for their parents,” Garcia said. “I’m usually in the kitchen making pancakes, but the kids will come over to me with their gift and they’ll whisper in my ear what they picked out. They’re always so excited about it, and this event is such a joy.”
Garcia said that 13 years ago, Yelm Lions Club saw a need during the holiday season. While Christmas toy drives ensure children receive a happy Christmas, few events focus on giving gifts to adults during the holiday season. Garcia said putting smiles on the faces of hardworking parents during the holiday season is rewarding each year she volunteers.
“The tradition started 13 years ago when we found that there’s a lot of organizations that provide gifts to receive,” Garcia said. “All of those years ago and up until now, we haven’t found the opposite. We wanted something where the kids could come in and get their parents a gift and take pride in it.”
Once children select a gift, they can take the present to a table for Lions volunteers to assist with wrapping. Those interested in donating gifts for men and women with a monetary value of $10 or less can contact Beth Wilcox, 253-973-6896, or Christy Garcia, 360-480-9126. The Yelm Lions Club can also be contacted via Messenger on Facebook.
“Events like this and others are successful when we have the input of many people within the community. We would love anybody to not just participate in this event but to reach out to us about our club itself and how they might be able to give back to the community in different ways,” Garcia said. “This is just one activity that we host. There’s many others throughout the year, and we’d love the community’s participation and involvement.”
