Seventy Care Help volunteers played holiday helper, pushing carts down every aisle at least once, and often two or three times as children pointed, held and considered items before placing it in the basket or returning it to the shelf. Some of the helpers were more enthusiastic than others with smiles that indicated they were having as much fun, if not more than the children.

One volunteer helped at least one child, and in one case a volunteer helped seven siblings each select a gift for mom and dad and one big gift for the whole family. (So, if the family of seven had two guardians at home, they took home 15 gifts.)     

Shop, eat and photo with Santa

The store was stocked especially for the occasion, and the large furniture warehouse was completely cleared, decorated and set up for a live band, eats, drinks, sweets, balloon animals and face-painting. That’s where parents waited, sipping tea or lemonade provided by Raising Canes of Sulphur and listened to live music as children shopped.

Some of the children were hesitant and overwhelmed with the shopping experience. So much to choose from.  Another young lady made short work of the assignment, selecting a set of turquoise pots as the family’s large gift then quickly spotting a well-designed, coordinating vase.

The volunteers are patient and supportive, sometimes asking the older children what their parents like to do in their spare time. The dad who watches TV in his recliner after work took a little longer to buy for than the dad who likes to fish.

The child who grabbed a silver jewelry box for her mother would have probably won the prize for speed and communicating her decisiveness to her volunteer.

Volunteers wrapped 400 gifts. Every year Care Help assembles a copious supply of wrapping paper of every design, color, weight, size and sheen. Volunteers – for those of a certain age – might call to mind those experts from fancy department stores that have long been closed. Sometimes beautiful fabric and trim is used. Gift wrappers didn’t bat an eye at the odd-sized gift and relished the challenge of wrapping a full set of china, carefully protecting each piece before boxing and putting on the finishing touches and tag, always completed by the youngster.

  Some of the children showed as much excitement telling parents what their gifts were than they did telling Santa and Mrs. Claus what they wanted for Christmas.

The Rotary Club of Sulphur provided rice and gumbo for 250 people, the club’s tradition for the past seven years.

Woodside Energy provided families with hot chocolate and sweet treats, a stuffed panda and keepsake frame for their photo with Santa taken by a professional photographer.

Donate on Jan. 2 and not before

Children had great gifts to choose from, and most were donated items. However, the thrift store  has asked, “please for the love of all things good,” that no donations be made from Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 1, 2025. Wait until January 2.

“We know it’s hard to resist the urge to declutter,” Farnum wrote on social media, but don’t drop off donations while we’re closed. Our staff needs this much deserved holiday break.”