Franklin Habitat Thrift Store to Hold “Children’s Shopping Time” Thursday Evening

Franklin County’s Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store in Lavonia is gearing up for its annual Children’s Shopping Time.

Children’s Shopping Time is an opportunity for kids ages 5 to 15 to come shop for Christmas gifts for their family and friends.

Executive Director Cathy Wood said the Children’s Shopping Time is coming up Thursday evening from 5p to 7p and no adults are allowed.

“The only people that will be in the store will be children,” Wood said. “ There will be staff and volunteers here inside to guide them as they shop. As they come into the door, they will be banded with their guardian or parents’ name and cellphone number.”

Wood said the children will then be allowed to look through the entire store to pick out those special gifts.

“They come into the store, they have their list and their little money. They are so cute. They really concentrate on what gifts they’re going to get for which person and how much money they can spend on each person. The volunteers are there, not to tell them what to buy to offer suggestions,” Wood explained.

Once the gifts are all picked out, the child then takes his gifts to the gift wrapping station where all of the presents are wrapped so that even the parents and other family members don’t know or see what the child bought.

Parents or guardians will then be called to pick up their child and they must show a valid ID.

Wood said it’s such a great time both for the child and the Habitat staff.

“The excitement here is unbelievable,” she said. “If you have a child between the ages of 5 and 15, I hope you will allow your child to come and let them do their shopping. They will have a ball and they will be so proud for what they’ve purchased for you and they’ve done it on their own.”

Wood said all of the money raised from the Children’s Shopping Time will go towards the building of Habitat’s 8th house.

There are no reservations required to have your child shop tomorrow night at the Habitat Thrift Store, just come to the store located on Highway 17 in Lavonia.

For more information, you can call the Habitat thrift store at 706-356-5479.