The Angel Tree Store is a one-day shopping experience at Legacy Early College managed and stocked by Christ Church parishioners and volunteers. Scholarships are awarded to families in need. In 2024, the parents of 200 children will be invited to Christmas shop for their kids on December 14.
Parents pay $5 per child for admittance to the store where they select a stocking and three gifts (small, medium and large) for each of their children. Christ Church volunteers assist by shopping with the parents, wrapping gifts and praying with and for the parents and their families. This approach to the Angel Tree concept empowers parents to select gifts which are both appropriate for their family as well as desired by their child and allows parents the dignity and joy of Christmas shopping for their child. The store is stocked with a variety of toys complied from wish lists obtained from the scholars as well as popular toys of the season. Watch the 2023 video to see the magic and many hands that bring this special store together for these deserving families.
There are three ways you can help with the Angel Tree Store ministry:
- Stock the store.
- Stuff a stocking.
- Volunteer at the store.
Read more about these opportunities below. No matter how you choose to get involved, your generosity will help make this Christmas unforgettable for so many families in our community.
Questions? Contact Jessica Clayton 843.557.2121 or Kevin Mertens 864.282.3100.
STOCK THE STORE
There are two ways to Stock the Store. Gifts are due Tuesday, December 10. We encourage everyone to shop early!
1: Click here to shop our Amazon Wish List
When you purchase a gift from our Amazon Wish List, the toy will be sent directly to Christ Church. There are large, medium and small gifts on the list so you can choose what level of financial commitment you are able to make. Feel free to buy multiple gifts as we want to make this year an overwhelming success!
2: Click here to make a donation
Don't have time to shop? Use the link above to make an online donation, or bring a check to the Parish House Front Office (payable to Christ Church with Angel Tree Store in the memo line). Click here for online giving instructions.
STUFF A STOCKING
Pick up a stocking in the Parish House lobby. Attached to the stocking will be the name, gender and age of the child for whom you are filling the stocking. Please fill with age-appropriate items and return to the Parish House (Room 251) no later than Monday, December 4.
Suggested Items:
Crayons, small toys, socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, balls, candy, erasers, stickers, nail polish, coloring books, cards, UNO, etc.
VOLUNTEER AT THE STORE
We need quite a few hands to help with everything from store setup and breakdown to toy assembly and wrapping. The volunteer opportunities are listed below. Click here to sign up to volunteer today!
- Sorters and Assemblers
- Set Up
- Greeter (1-2 volunteers per shift)
- Check In (1-2 volunteers per shift)
- Shopper (6 volunteers per shift)
- Toy Wrapper (8 volunteers per shift)
- Runner (2 volunteers per shift)
- Clean-up Crew
FAQs & Additional Information
Do I send the gifts from the Amazon Wish List to my house or use the Address on File?
Please use the address on file which will send the gifts directly to the church.
What if I can’t find an item on the Sign-Up Genius?
No worries. Just find something similar. For example, the Our Generation dolls from Target are just as great as an American Girl Doll.
Where can I purchase the gifts from the Sign-Up Genius?
Anywhere – Walmart, Target, Costco, etc.
Do I bring the gift wrapped or unwrapped?
Unwrapped, please, so we can display them at the store.
I have some used toys that are in good condition, do you want these?
While gently used toys are great, the intention of this ministry is to create the look and feel of a real toy store. Therefore, we are requesting only new toys.
What about clothes and other necessary items?
While that is certainly a need, we are blessed in Greenville to have many organizations that support that need (especially around Christmas). This ministry is focused solely on the joy of Christmas that we believe every child (and parent) should be able to experience even if they have fallen on hard times. Part of the joy of being a parent at Christmas is picking out the perfect gift for your child and anticipating the excitement they will show Christmas morning when they open that gift. This ministry allows for the parents to experience that same joy.
A note about toys
Keep
in mind that while the wish lists we collected serve as suggestions for
the toys we will have in the store, the parents will make the ultimate
decision on what their child will receive. Therefore, any toy you choose
will bring joy Christmas morning to a child who may otherwise not get
to experience presents under the tree.
