MYRTLE BEACH -- While many people shopped for last minute Christmas presents in the mall, some families shopped at a local church for free.
Which made Nicole Galloway thinks she found the Christmas sale of the season.
She, along with 80 other families, got their Christmas presents free of charge this year, thanks to the Operation Christmas event at the First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach.
The church adopted these families for the holidays and allowed them to pick out gifts to put under their tree, which is something Galloway is looking forward to.
“It makes me feel really nice that I’m able to do those things, have things under the tree, and know that he’ll have things to open and be excited about,” Galloway said.
The church collected donations from members.
They then used those donations to go on a shopping spree.
They bought brand new toys, clothes, and accessories that the families they sponsor cannot afford to buy.
“A lot of people don’t have jobs. My husband is unemployed right now,” said Darshawn Wickerson, who collected gifts for her sons at the event Sunday. “It at least lets me give my children something this Christmas, and we’re very grateful.”
The church also provided free babysitting while the parents shopped.
The kids are down the hall in one of the classrooms,” said Sarah Benton, a coordinator for the event. “We’ve got Santa Clause down there, an elf, lots of snacks, and Christmas movies going on.”
Which is enough to keep the kids busy while parents check off their Christmas list.
“They have really good purses here, and good stuff for kids of all ages," said Rachel Sartip, a church volunteer at the event. "Some of the stuff here I would get if I were shopping.”
In addition to their gifts, the church also gave each child a bible, to remind the family of a message that Benton said they send throughout the year.
“It’s just a way that we are able to show Christ’s love to other families in the community,” said Benton. "It just warms your heart when you've got families come in and they're just so grateful for everything that you've done for them."
Next year, the church will begin teaching classes on topics like finance and parenting to continue helping families in need.
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