Christmas Store Brings Joy To Families In Need
[Written by written by Kristen Taylor] Lights are twinkling, carols are playing and happy volunteers are spreading good cheer–it’s time for the Cornerstone Foundation’s Christmas Store 2015!
The store is decked out with gifts and toys for 90% off, 2 boxes of cereal for $1, bags of fruit for $1, Family Membership cards for the Aquarium costing $7 and each shopper is also entered into a draw to win a gift certificate from BELCO, local grocery stores or even for a Christmas turkey.
Each family is selected based on their personal needs. The names of these families come to the attention of the Cornerstone Foundation via school counselors, government organizations and personal referrals. Each family is invited by invitation as well as a personal phone call. All of these families are working, have children and are struggling but generally not supported by government agencies or anyone else.
The Cornerstone Foundation seeks to make their Christmas a little brighter by offering a personalized shopping experience suited to their budget and needs. Each family’s name is confidential, but their stories are powerful. They are hard working families, struggling to provide day in and day out for their children’s needs in a tough economy.
The volunteers provide each family with a personal shopper, a warm greeting and a tasty snack as well as a prayer room for those who are going through emotionally stressful times and need a comforting word of prayer. When their shopping is done, cheerful volunteers wrap all the gifts purchased in brightly coloured Christmas paper and the shoppers are helped to the cars with their gifts and groceries.
Over 120 families benefited from the Christmas Store this year and 87 volunteers worked hard to make the store a success. Several volunteers said that the experience touched their hearts deeply. One volunteer brought her children to help and she said that it was “exciting to have the opportunity to watch my kids give back”.
For another volunteer, it was her first year helping, and she said “All I have experienced is love.” She said that as the evening went on she watched customers walk in with stooped shoulders and sad demeanors and leave with “an upright posture…and a look of hope on their faces”.
One customer came to the store to buy for her four children and when asked what she really needed, she looked back at the volunteer and said “I really need prayer”. She went into the prayer room and came out with a big smile on her face.
Cornerstone Foundation’s philosophy of a “hand up instead of a hand-out” is based on the concept that at some point in every person’s life, everyone will need help to get to where they are going.
In this case, providing necessities and gifts at a dramatically reduced price allows financially-strapped families to purchase more for less; helping them to maintain their dignity and enjoy providing for their families within their means.
If you are interested in the Christmas Store or any of Cornerstone Foundation’s other endeavors please visit cornerstonefoundation.bm.
Awesome!!
Great article! Job Well done Cornerstone. You continue to touch so many lives and I’m sure your efforts are greatly appreciated.
What a bargin. Well done.