It’s that time of year again! 

SHEPHERD’S SHOPPING SPREE

DECEMBER 23rd 2021

Christmas is such a joyful time and nowhere more than at Haven House.  Each year we ask the community to donate new and gently used items for our adults and children and we collect throughout November and December at local vendors.  On December 23rd we will be taking all of the donated items and setting up “shop” in our Dining Room!

Our Participants and their children start earning a “ticket” to the Shopping Spree beginning in November. They are asked to rake leaves – and 5 bags per family buys a ticket into the event.  Each family is allowed to then go into the Dining Room beginning with the youngest child in the house up to the oldest adult.  A personal shopper takes the smaller children and helps them pick out a gift for everyone in their family.  Once the children are done shopping, the adults are then able to go in and also pick out a present for each member of their family as well.  The selected gifts are then wrapped by our wonderful volunteers who come out on this day to join in on the celebration and the fun.

At the end of the line of shoppers, all children and adults have the chance to make a second trip into the spree and pick out gifts for friends.  When everyone has finally finished their second round of shopping, the doors are open for all to go back into the spree and collect up whatever they desire from whatever is left.  And there is always plenty to choose from!

This is one of the most looked forward to events of the Season. Not just for Participants and the kids but also for staff and volunteers.  We all find so much joy this day seeing the smiles on faces as our families get to experience the beauty of Christmas and the fun of giving.  Often these families have really faced hardship in the past and have been unable at times to even have a Christmas of giving – or presents under the tree.  So this is truly meaningful in every way.

While we understand that “things” do not make Christmas special – it is first and foremost about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ – we want our Kids to experience a childhood like all other kids get to have.  And as such, we greatly appreciate how our local communities step up every year to help make this a reality.  Thank you from all of the Staff, Families and Children at Haven House for all you, our Community, has done this year and every year on Christmas and every day.  God Bless you all and may the warmth and love of Christmas fill your home and live in the hearts of your Families as well this Christmas Season.