On Saturday, December 6, several Baptist churches worked together to help local parents make Christmas memories for their children.
Each year, since 1983, at least 20 area Baptist churches, from Eastern Forsyth County have gathered together to create the Christmas Store so parents can come in and select gifts to give to their children for Christmas. The Christmas Store was located in the Senior Center, located in the lower level of the Kernersville Public Library. It is just like any other children’s store, filled with toys, books, and games, with one exception, the customers don’t pay. All of the gifts at the Christmas Store have been donated by local churches and businesses.
The Kernersville Library location was not the only location to do this. Karen Taylor, a community missionary with the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association in Winston-Salem, said there were a total of five Christmas Stores in operation, adding that last year they were able to help 2800 children.
“Last year, the Kernersville Christmas Store served 200 needy children,” explained Taylor.
She said in the past couple of years, they’ve seen an increase in people needing assistance.
“We need to remember that we are all just one paycheck away from poverty. You may be helping this year and the next year, you may be the one needing the help.”
Phillip Thompson added, “I am my brother’s keeper. Tomorrow he might be mine.”
Once a parent arrives at The Christmas Store, they are given a large plastic bag to put their selections in. Each parent is paired with a helper, who takes them to the stations and assists them with their gift selections. All shoppers are allowed to select one crochet item (handmade by the ladies of Main Street Baptist Church), two stocking stuffers, and two primary gifts. Once the gifts are selected, the shopper may then bring the presents to a station where they are wrapped by the Freshman Deans of East Forsyth High School.
In addition to The Christmas Store, they also have a food pantry, a furniture ministry, and a firewood ministry, which gets wood to low-income families who heat their home with wood burning stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces.
If you are or know of a family in need, you may contact the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association at (336)759-7622 or visit their website for more information at www.pmba.org.
