Yelm Lions Club to host 14th annual Christmas Store on Dec. 6

With the holiday season quickly approaching, an annual tradition is set to return to the Nisqually Valley community as the Yelm Lions Club’s 14th annual Christmas Store is set for Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Carlson Cabin.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers with the event will usher attendees inside, where children ages 12 and under are invited to pick out a free gift for the adults in their home, according to Christina Garcia, Yelm Lions Club president.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a mom or a dad, if there’s grandparents in the home — whatever adults are in the home and raising the kid, that’s who they have the opportunity to pick a free gift for,” Garcia added. “When the families come in, the adults in the home go over to the tables next to the kitchen and sit down to a free pancake breakfast. That’s my favorite part of the event because I’m in the kitchen cooking up pancakes.”

After being ushered into the building, Garcia noted that volunteers will serve families pancakes at a dining area near the kitchen. While families enjoy breakfast, a local boy scout troop, acting as Christmas elves at the store, guides the children in attendance to each gift table to select “whichever gift they feel is best suited for the adults in their home.”

“They’re always filled with so much excitement at that part of the Christmas Store,” Garcia said. “They get to choose the gift, whether that’s tools, or a new wallet for dad or for uncle, or whether that’s a special book, a vase or a bracelet for their mom or aunt or grandma. The kids love that part.”

After the young attendees have picked out gifts for the adults in their home, they’ll head to the wrapping area where volunteers will help them wrap the presents they’ve chosen. Additionally, a labeling table will be present for youngsters to label who each gift is for.

“From there, they join their families back at the pancake table and they can have some breakfast if they want to,” Garcia said. “We’re going to try to have some goodies available. It’s always nice to have some Christmas cookies or some hot cider or cocoa.”

Once the children are done picking, wrapping and tagging their gifts, and families have concluded eating their pancake breakfast, they’ll be ushered to the club’s exit and greeted by Mayor Joe DePinto.

“There’s only so much room in the cabin. I think we can only accommodate 45 people at a time in there, so it’s a little tight in there,” Garcia said. “We usually have a long line of people waiting to come in and go out.

“This event is for anybody in the community who wants to come. You don’t have to worry about your income level or anything like that,” Garcia continued. “Anyone is free to participate and come in to sit down and have pancakes and choose a gift. They can make a donation if they want to and if they’re able to, but there’s no obligation to.”

No community-focused event can function at a high level for 14 years without generosity from the local community. Garcia gave a huge shout out to Yelm’s Les Scwhab and longtime Yelm Lions Club member Dave Sayas, Les Schwab associate, for the support they’ve shown the Christmas Store throughout the years.

“Dave Sayas has been a Lions Club member for a long time. Every year, faithfully, they’ve gone shopping at Walmart with us and just filled up a cart or two with gifts for the parents. They’re a really huge donor for the community when it comes to this store. Shoutout to Les Schwab for sure in helping to pick out amazing gifts for families,” Garcia said. “We have other community businesses that we solicit to, and we have volunteers who go into community businesses to see if they’d like to donate anything for the event.”

She added that along with local businesses and organizations, community members have also contributed items to the Christmas Store.

She noted, in past years, they’ve collected bracelets, lotions, CD’s and other items along those lines. This year, if anyone would like to donate items, Yelm Lions Club is asking if donations would be new items.

For those interested in donating to Yelm Lions Club’s Christmas Store event, contact Garcia at 360-480-9126.