The Christmas Store
Over 30 churches and urban ministries from a wide variety of denominations and traditions collaborate to make this unique program happen each year. These groups invite shoppers from their communities, provide funding and volunteers to staff the event. There are over 200 volunteers that help make the Christmas Store possible each year. On Saturday, December 5th, 2009, Mile High Ministries celebrated our 19th anniversary of the Christmas Store. Parents of approximately 2400 children bought gifts at one of two locations: Downtown and Aurora
CHRISTMAS AGAIN— From the book Theirs is the Kingdom, by Robert Lupton “Christmas again. Damn!” His words are barely audible but his wife knows his feelings well. She sees the hurt come into his eyes when the kids come home from school talking about what they want for Christmas. It is the same expression she sees on the faces of other unemployed fathers around the housing project. She knows this year will be no different from the last. All her husband’s hustle, his day-labor jobs, his pick-up work will not be enough to put presents under a tree. They will do well to keep the heat on. His confident, promising deceptions allow the children the luxury of their dreams a while longer. She will cover for him again because she knows he is a good man. His lies are his wishes, his flawed attempts to let his children know what the older ones know but never admit: the gifts are not from Daddy. He will not go with her to stand in the “free toy” lines with all the others. He cannot bring himself to do it. It is too stark a reminder of his own impotence. And if their home is blessed again this year with a visit from a Christian family bearing food and beautifully wrapped presents for the kids, he will stay in the bedroom until they are gone. He will leave the smiling and the graciousness to his wife. His joy for the children will be genuine. But so is the heavy ache in his stomach as his image of himself as a provider is dealt another blow. Christmas. That wonderful, awful time when giving hearts glow warm and bright while fading embers of a poor man’s pride are doused black. |
The Christmas Store provides the opportunity for Moms and Dads to purchase brand new toys at about 25% of the retail cost. The atmosphere of the store affirms and supports the parent's efforts to provide for their families. Parents are invited to participate by churches and ministries who serve the poor in Denver's inner city. Dignity is as much a product of the store as the toys.
A donation to the Christmas Store is…