Published: December 13, 2007 12:27 pm            

Shop With Santa gives children element of surprise

Originally published in the December 14, 2007, print edition.

While the first snow storm of the year raged outside, children in Steele County received a unique opportunity to pick out gifts for their family.

“Shop With Santa is a community service project our county has been doing for over 20 years,” said Mary Jo Schoenfeld, the county’s 4-H program assistant. “The idea is to offer gifts for youngsters sixth grade and under to shop for their parents or siblings. Parents wait in a separate room while their children can shop and pick out gifts on their own.”

This year’s event was held Dec. 1 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Owatonna. Although the event serves as a fundraiser for Steele County 4-H, it is mainly offered as a community service project.

Parents give their children a set amount of money to spend on gifts, which is given to an adult leader and recorded. From there a 4-H’er guides the child through a large assortment of gifts to choose from. Once the gifts are picked they are then packaged and wrapped by 4-H’ers.

“When the kids leave, they (the gifts) are ready to place under the tree without the parents or siblings knowing what it is,” Schoenfeld said.

“The element of surprise is what makes this event so exciting,” said Sandy Jircle, program coordinator for Shop With Santa. “The kids get to surprise mom and dad on Christmas day.”

To keep the event going every year, four different clubs are annually chosen to help with the set-up, tear-down and provide adult leadership. However, all 4-H’ers in the county are called on to help provide gifts.

“All 4-H’ers in the county are asked to make gifts, which range from pillows, centerpieces, Christmas tree ornaments, jewelry, decorations, stamped dishtowels, marshmallow shooters, bird feeders and so forth,” Schoenfeld said.

A strong emphasis on quality can be seen by the gifts available.

“I don’t think anyone could come in and not find something nice,” said Michael Ferch, a volunteer whose children are active in Steele County 4-H.

Shop With Santa also seeks to encourage Christmas values.

“The program teaches 4-H’ers the act of sharing. They share their time and gifts to make Christmas giving special for community children,” Jircle said.

Despite the challenge of a winter storm, which made it difficult for some volunteers to make it, the event had a strong turnout and ran smoothly.

“Shop With Santa is a rewarding and fun event, one we plan to continue in Steele County for years to come,” Jircle said.

        

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