Our Story

The Shafter Christmas Store came about as many things do in small towns like Shafter, a group of friends who saw a problem and got together to see how they could help.

In the Summer of 2017 Brittney reached out to friends Katie and Melissa to get advice on improving the Christmas giving program she led:

It seemed like every year there was some issue with traditional giving models that left me feeling unsettled. I couldn’t put my finger on why, but I knew I wasn’t comfortable with the traditional Adopt-a-family model. After talking to Melissa and Katie I realized it was the fact that even though our efforts were well intentioned, they were taking dignity away from the parents as the providers of the home-Brittney

Melissa and Katie suggested trying a new model of giving based on the principals of dignity based ministry. Katie and Melissa read about Pride for Parents in Bob Lupton’s book Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life. Pride for Parents, hosted by FCS ministries in Atlanta, emphasized the need to highlight that both donors and recipients want to bring something to the table and that desire should be honored. Though their resources may be limited, parents would rather know that they are providing for their children rather than being given a handout.

And so the Shafter Christmas Store was born….

The Christmas Store, under the umbrella of the Shafter Chamber of Commerce, partners with Shafter Healthy Start to select families that are invited to the store. Shafter Healthy Start works with families in the Richland School district to build bridges between the schools and the community and to promote the welfare of children and their families. Healthy Start has been the perfect partner to connect the Shafter Christmas Store with families. Families have an established relationship with the staff and this foundation of trust is critical as families likely have never participated in an event like this before.

Throughout the Fall months community members, service groups, churches and businesses work together with the Shafter Christmas store team to collect brand new toys that are then offered to parents at a one-day shopping event in December at an 80-90% discount.

The Shafter Christmas Store is a special time where the community comes together, not as givers and receivers, but as parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors celebrating and recognizing each other’s worth. We hope you will join with us!