Christmas with Dignity

Dates to Remember:

    Date of the Store: December 11, 2010; begins at 9:30 a.m.
    (Three shifts of volunteers starting 9-11:30, 11:15-1:30, 1:15-3:30ish)

    Volunteers Need for Setup: December 10, 2010; begins at 6 pm.

    Designated Gifts by: December 7, 2010 (we do the shopping for you!)

    Toys and clothing dropped off: December 1st - 9th, 2010

Helping children and their families:

Every year we have a day before Christmas that we set aside for the parents/guardians of the children who attend Cottage Cove. Brand new donated items, from bicycles to Barbie dolls, are set up in a fashioned store and can be purchased at extra low prices by the parents/guardians. We provide free refreshments and free Christmas wrapping. This event came about after seeing parents watch their children receive “gifts from strangers” that they wish they were able to purchase. Thus, the “Dignity” is restored to them as they provide for their children. Parents/guardians are always told in advance what day this will be held so that they can save for the event. This is one of our most successful programs and has brought us closer to the children’s families.

PDF support materials:

Item Needs: New Items For Christmas Presents -- Games, Bicycles and helmets, Dolls (any ethnicity), RC Vehicles, Electronic Games, MP3 Players, Batteries, Teen Items, Wagons, Sleeping Bags, Tonka Toys, Skate Boards and pads, Basket Balls, Footballs, Children's Clothing, Cell phones with minutes, Winter Coats, Cool Gadgets for Guys, etc. Wrapping paper is welcome too! (See the pdf wish list for even more possibilities).

If you are debating between a bunch of small items or one or a few large items, go with the larger! Small items are what some families may be able to afford on occasion; our dream is to provide something truly special.

Participation / Event Volunteers: Along with providing items for Christmas with Dignity, we require numerous volunteers the night before to setup our amazing store, attach batteries, label items, plus assemble bicycles, tricycles, wagons, etc. Also, the day of this event, we need about 100 volunteers to be "store staff," gift wrappers, greeters, clean up, etc. This is a great opportunity for teens and adults to help out! (Volunteers must be age 15 and up, the only exception are those ages 12-14 accompanying a parent). Contact us for more details or to schedule being here!

Event Images:

A volunteer helping a mom shop for much needed winter coats

Parents shopping for toys

More parents shopping for toys

Some of the toys

Parents lined up and waiting for the store to open in the morning
... it was below freezing!

A volunteer and a daughter wrapping presents