The Children’s Gift Shop lets parents relax while their kids choose inexpensive gifts for them

Jenny Burr
Special to Spur Ottawa

A hand-picked gift, just for you, from your child or grandchild is what the Children’s Gift Shop is all about. On Saturday, December 5, children ages three to 13 can shop for gifts priced from $0.25 up to $3.00, at Kanata Baptist Church.

Wendy and Jim Marr have overseen the Children’s Gift Shop for more than 20 years. The money raised from this event used to go to help the church nursery and pioneer clubs.

“Now the money goes to missions that are specific for children around the world,” explains Marr.

Marr says the effect on the community “has been very positive. People from the community and children who went through the shop now volunteer.”

Younger children are paired with a youth helper to assist them in their shopping and to ensure gifts are found for everyone on their list. The helpers remain with them as they pay and while their gifts are wrapped and name tagged. Meanwhile, the parents and grandparents can relax and enjoy treats at the Youth Christmas Café.

Parents tell the Marrs they love the gifts their children buy at the shop. They also say the children’s siblings often play with these gifts more than Santa’s.

Pauline and Frank Eady have been involved for years. One year, their three-year-old granddaughter proudly gave them a Barbie doll, Barbie car, Barbie horse and carriage, and a bag of My Little Ponies.

Setting up for the event requires three full days and evenings of work. The Eadys have pitched in with the set up and tear down, providing shopping bags, and as wrappers and cashiers.

“It always amazes me that the jumble of items piled on the tables on Wednesday night, the boxes of items stacked on the floor, and items that need cleaning are always transformed into a gift for a themed table,” Eady comments.

Jeff Kenmir experienced the shop as a child and later as a youth helper. Now, as the youth leader at Kanata Baptist, he encourages the youth to volunteer for the shop or the Christmas Café. After their first year volunteering, he says most youth are excited to be involved with future events.

“The Café is a youth fundraiser that we run while the shop is happening,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that volunteering and acts of service are an integral part of a youth’s development.”

Kenmir also remembers being there as a kid and picking out gifts.

“Rocks sculpted into eggs and polished to be very smooth are something that people collect. One found its way to the Christmas Shop that particular year. I probably thought that the colours and smoothness were cool. I bought it as a gift for my mom and she still has it today, some 20 odd years later.”