The Yelm Lions Christmas Store will once again open its doors to provide kids a free shopping experience as they pick out toys for their parents, grandparents or guardians.
This year’s event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the historic Carlson Cabin on the corner of Yelm Avenue and Edwards Street.
Kids will be escorted to the gift table where they can “shop” at no charge for items, while their parents relax and enjoy refreshments. Then volunteers with the Lions Club will wrap the presents.
“I remember being the youngest of six kids and sitting in class while everyone got to do Santa’s Secret Shop and didn’t get to do it because we didn’t have the money to do it,” Yelm Lions member and Christmas Store organizer Leesa Wilson said.
After getting their gifts, the family will be able to sit down for a pancake breakfast.
In past years up to 500 kids came through the cabin in a given year. While the COVID-19 pandemic tampered down attendance numbers, Wilson said they are expected to bounce back this year.
Wilson spends a lot of her time going to local businesses to ask for donations and gifts. She will even attach business cards to the gifts a certain place donates. Les Schwab, South Hill RV and Yelm Physical Therapy tend to be some of the biggest supporters of the store.
The program is intended for children under the age of 12, but Wilson said they are flexible. A team of six Lions Club volunteers and a local Yelm Boy Scout Troop will be on hand to help at the event.
To prepare for 500 kids, a thousand gifts need to be purchased for the store, Wilson said. She starts shopping early in the year and picks up items as she goes along.
“Kids really love giving jewelry and tools along with a lot of little odds and ends,” Wilson said. “Sometimes they might find something for a sibling and we allow them to grab something extra.”
People who are not associated with the Lions Club also help with the event. One of the biggest needs is volunteers who wrap presents.
“We always need volunteers,” Wilson said. “Everyone can come be a part of it.”
The Lions Club has held its Christmas store for the past 11 years and Wilson has helped organize the event for the past seven years.
For more information and updates, people can go online to www.facebook.com/yelmlions or they can email yelmlionsclub@gmail.com.
