For an entire week, Granny’s House kids “Ooooooed” and “Aaaaaaaaahed” over the gift-wrapped door of our back room. Only staff and volunteers were allowed to peek and see what was inside: THE GRANNY'S HOUSE CHRISTMAS STORE.
And we wish you could have heard the buzz created by these excited shoppers once they entered that “Secret Door” adorned with the big white bow:
"I can't choose...I want to get my mom exactly what she would like!" -Consolee
"Man... I should have worked more so I could have gotten some more stuff…" -Amareon
"My teacher is going to LOVE this book!" -Deborah
During November and December, kids did chores around Granny's House to earn those precious points to spend at our unique store. They could clean a bathroom, sweep the front walkway, mop the kitchen floor, help organize craft supplies etc... And sometimes the children do the chores not just because they want to get more "points," but to be a blessing: "The volunteers at Granny's House work really hard and when we work to earn points, it makes their job much easier." -10 year old Granny's House girl.
Now, when they hear the announcement, “Who wants to tidy up the homework room?” the kids scramble and debate over who’ll get to do it; and sometimes we ran out of projects because everybody is looking for a job to do!
Our goal for the Christmas store was the same as the goal we had for last summer’s KAA Store. In the minds of many of the children who come to Granny’s House, “Provision” = “Handout.” With our Christmas Store, we want to change that equation to “Provision” = “Hard Work.”
Like little Christmas elves, the staff and volunteers collected donations from a number of groups, organizations, and area churches who volunteered to help us stock our store with gifts for moms, dads, grandmas, and teacher etc., everything from fancy bath sets and tool kits, to boxed chocolates and fashion watches. We did what my grandmother called “Killing two birds with one stone:” provided gifts for the kids’ parents, all while giving them an invaluable life lesson in responsibility and the joy of giving. The kids are learning, first hand, that it really is “more blessed to give then to receive!”
