Macedonia church to host free shopping experience for 80 local families Dec. 6
A collaborative effort among 11 local organizations aims to make the holidays brighter for families struggling financially in the Nordonia Hills community. The Community Christmas Connection, hosted at The United Methodist Church of Macedonia, will provide 80 families with a free Christmas shopping experience on Dec. 6.
Hundreds of families in the community lack the financial means to provide presents for their children at Christmas. The program addresses this need by inviting parents and guardians to personally select presents for all children in their family, ranging from infants to age 17.
The church will organize rooms with tables sorted by age group and gender, giving families the opportunity to select items from designated tables. Volunteers from the partner churches and organizations will serve as Christmas Elves, assisting families during their shopping experience and connecting with them on a personal level.
Each family will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win premium items including refurbished bicycles, Christmas trees, gift cards and other larger items. Wrapping services will be provided on-site so families can have their selections wrapped before leaving the building if desired.
The Nordonia Hills School system is identifying and notifying eligible families through the schools to protect their privacy. Each family will receive a scheduled appointment time for their visit to the church.
Partner organizations include American Legion Post 801, Faith Fellowship Church, Nordonia Hills City School District, Northfield Presbyterian Church, Northfield VFW Post 6768, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Rotary Club of Nordonia Hills, Saint Barnabas Catholic Parish, Spennatos Restaurant, United Methodist Church of Macedonia and Victory Baptist Church.
Organizers seek community support through advertising, new unwrapped toys, gift cards, cash donations and drop-off locations. The group plans to make this an annual event, increasing the number of families served each year.
More information and drop-off locations are available at https://commchristmasconnect.com. Questions can be directed to CommChristmasConnect@gmail.com.
