For the last 11 years, the Rainier Elementary School Booster Club has hosted an annual holiday tradition where it opens a shop to allow students and local children to buy inexpensive Christmas gifts for their families.
Parents and local vendors donate dozens of items, including toys, 3D printed items, metal items, Rainier Mountaineers apparel and cotton candy, among others, to sell to children. All items were priced between 25 cents and $20, and 22 baskets were donated for a raffle.
During this year’s shop, located in the RES gymnasium, Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, children gathered to pick out gifts and sweet treats and create arts and crafts for their families. Families could also take free photos with Santa Claus.
Rachele Stephenson, RES Booster Club secretary, said the shop had a strong turnout before the Mountaineers’ boys basketball game against Mossyrock Dec. 6 and another congregation of shoppers on Saturday despite poor weather.
“This is not a moneymaker. This is just so kids can shop. We had community donations of baskets for raffles, and our cookies were mostly baked by the Valley Heart Food Pantry and Ashley from Jason’s Greenhouse,” she said. “I love having the kids come around and shop and make crafts and all the fun.”
The 2024 shop featured a couple of new additions, including changing the price cap per item from $10 to $20, and Rainier fan gear was available for the first time. Local scouts sold 3D printed and metal items to support their activities, as well.
The kids’ shop was one of several fundraisers that weekend as Rainier FFA hosted a bazaar to raise money for the program, and the Rainier High School marching band raised money to fund uniforms.
Any toys that were not sold during the Christmas shopping weekend will be donated as prizes for the booster club’s bingo event in the spring.
