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Parents are united about the importance of teaching their children that it's better to give than to receive, but, in our consumer-centric society, getting that concept across to the little ones is not always easy.
"There are so few places," says Nancee Dahms-Stinson, youth services coordinator for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, "that parents can take their kids to teach them financial responsibility, altruism and the meaning of the holidays—all at the same time."
The popular Holiday Store for Kids, now in its seventh year, fits that description to a T.
"The girls are six and sassy now and they've been going to the Holiday Store since they were three," says Jenny Keltner, mother of Zoe, Isabel and Lauren. "They absolutely love it. We make a list of everyone to buy for and how much they can spend. They feel so independent and proud to go into the Holiday Store and pick out what to give to people, and they are good at keeping their purchases a secret, too."
The Holiday Store, a nonprofit event coordinated by the Friends of the Library-sponsored Between Friends Gift Shop at the Library Center, opens Saturday [November 29] and continues through Sunday, December 7, in meeting room A.
Santa and Sandie, jolly elves well known in the area after 17 years in the business, will cut the red ribbon at 9:30 a.m. that will usher the youngsters into a wonderland of glittering and singing Christmas trees and an expansive assortment of quality gifts for everyone on their lists. All the gifts are not more than $10, but most are $5 or under.
"The Holiday Store," says gift shop manager Shelli Kaminski, "is extremely satisfying for me. I've been doing it for so long now that I recognize kids who came here when they were little and are now pre-teens."
This year, the Holiday Store opening will be preceded by juice and cookies provided by the Mudhouse café in the auditorium at 8:45 a.m. followed by Reindeer School, a program presented by Santa and Sandie at 9 a.m. From 9:45 until 10:30 a.m., Library staff will take digital photos of the kids with Santa and give them to parents in a holiday card, suitable for gifting.
After the fun is over, the children benefit even more. Proceeds from the Holiday Store are used to help pay for next year's summer reading clubs and programs.
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