After much effort, organizers have found a home for Santa’s Workshop in Enderby.
Located at 708 Cliff Ave., the space is small but the volunteers are determined to continue the long-standing Enderby tradition.
“We were worried it was not going to happen because every place we checked out did not work for one reason or another,” said Jackie Pearase, who co-ordinates the event with her sister, Tracy Ell.
“But we plan to be open Monday to begin taking donations and preparing for the shopping sprees.”
Due to the short timeline and small space, people are asked to be selective about what they donate.
“We want items you want to see under the tree from your little gift-givers at Christmas,” said Ell.
“We usually have more than a month to get things organized and we are now looking at three weeks. So any and all help is appreciated, from helping at the workshop to donating items that we can box up with little effort.”
Santa’s Workshop collects new and gently used items that kids might want to give to those on their lists – jewelry, household items, games, tools, gadgets, etc.
Items needing some love are washed and fixed up then boxed for the Kids’ Only Shopping Spree.
Kids aged 12 and under are escorted by an elf, who helps with selections and budgeting. The gifts are then wrapped so kids can have the joy of giving a surprise on Dec. 25.
“Everything is reasonably priced. We want all kids to afford nice things at Christmas,” said Pearase.
“Everyone is welcome to come, regardless of their circumstances.”
There are also shopping events for seniors and teens/adults.
All proceeds go to local non-profits.
This year’s Kids’ Only Shopping Spree is Dec. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Seniors Shopping Spree is Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a Teen and Adult Shopping Spree is Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Donations can be dropped off at the workshop (next to the Stocking Up Shop) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
Anyone wanting to help with this Enderby tradition – at the workshop or as a shopping elf or wrapper at the shopping sprees – is asked to contact Pearase at 250-838-0466 or Ells at 250-838-0994.
