Cottage Cove "Christmas with Dignity"

Last night we set up for our 10th "Christmas with Dignity" shopping day for our Cottage Cove families. The first year we opened our doors for the neighborhood, we did what most people do and had a big Christmas party for the kids and handed them presents. We noticed as we were giving gifts out to the children the parents were lined up against the walls with very little expressions on their face. We figured it out quickly..."Here's a bunch of rich folks giving our kids things that we could never give them." Well, they were wrong on one thing. We certainly weren't rich but we did have the capability to find people to donate incredible gifts for the children!

Anyway, after that first insight we changed our Christmas approach. We told the parents and guardians of our Cottage Cove kids to make sure they save for our Christmas Store so they can "buy" their kids presents for Christmas! Needless to say, the most expensive purchase they make is $15.00...and that's for a bike, PlayStation, X-Box, or anything else that would normally cost $50.00 - $300.00 to purchase!

What we also found was that the guardians/parents started walking with their heads up and it gave them pride to literally "choose and purchase" gifts for their kids. It's been an amazing program! One Saturday in December, parents line up at the front door of Cottage Cove, usually, hours before we open the doors! and they are allowed to purchase many gifts for how ever many children they have in their household. After they have "gone shopping" we have a volunteer follow them with boxes to hold their purchases, then take them into another part of the Cove and wrap all the presents they want us to wrap, and provide them food and drink while the volunteers and staff talk with them and learn about their needs, desires, and dreams.

I loved setting up last night but hated not being there today! Due to my schedule at NBTA, this was the first one I have missed in the last 1o years! I have to do better planning for next year...'cause this is one of the best things we do that helps us to really get to know the parents of our kids at Cottage Cove. If you have time...visit our website! http://www.cottagecove.org