Our Team
The Christmas Store Leadership Team
Melissa Bergen: Melissa first learned about this unique Christmas event model while reading a chapter called “Pride for Parents” in a book on community development by Bob Lupton. Her work with churches and Healthy Start helped her see the need and possibility of bringing a similar event to Shafter. Melissa is married to her sweetheart Ryan.
The Shafter Christmas Store’s motto is to ‘provide the magic of Christmas for the whole family.’ I often think that it’s magical for the whole community. A place to give and receive with honor. We could all use a little magic.
Brittney Neal-Soberanis: Brittney got involved with the Christmas Store while working as a Project Manager for the City of Shafter. She is a married to Luis and they have one daughter and one son.
Since the beginning of the Christmas Store I have become a parent myself. As a mom, I love to think about what my daughter would like for Christmas and shop for her. I feel proud we are able to provide that same dignity for parents in Shafter.
Katie Wiebe: Katie got involved with the Shafter Christmas Store after reading about the Pride for Parents Store in Bob Lupton’s book Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life. She realized the need for dignity based ministry and was excited to bring this model to Shafter. She is married to John and they have three sons.
I love working with the Shafter Christmas Store because I get to meet so many of my wonderful neighbors and watch them carefully select and provide Christmas gifts for their children. I feel so lucky to be neighbors with these fantastic families.