Tag: christmas
Seldovia’s Santa Shop Serving Youth Around the World
by Jenny Chissus
The Santa Shop is a great way for infants to high school students to go shopping on their own for their friends and family. Due to the fact that we are off the road system and there are limited opportunities for shopping, the Santa Shop has been a way for our youth to buy (they name their price on each donated item that they purchase) gifts on their own, have them wrapped and ready for Christmas! This been a tradition in Seldovia since at least 2006 when Laurel started it as Director of the Seldovia Boys and Girls Club. When asking Laurel about it, she wasn’t sure if it had a previous “life” in Seldovia, but I personally don’t remember having this opportunity for young shoppers before that time – at least since we moved here in 2002.
The Santa Shop is open for just a few hours from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Friday the 13th of December. It is held in the Susan B English cafeteria and once 5:00pm rolls around, the gifts will be gathered up so don’t be late! Make sure your young family members get a chance to buy something special on their own this year! The left over items are often donated for distribution in the Christmas food boxes for local families or to pack in the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes each year.
Regarding the monies earned from the sale of the donated items, each year seems to be different. Early on, the money went to the Boys & Girls Club, then one year it went towards the monies raised by the Winters for a farm in Africa. The Santa Shop has also supported Good Vibes (a Seldovia after school activities program for young kids) and funds have also been used to purchase items for the Christmas Child Shoeboxes. This year it has yet to be determined where the proceeds will go. When asked about this, Laurel replied “I was considering possibly the Alaska Red Cross to help some of the villages that have had natural disasters recently.”
This is such a charitable event, donating unused or “in like-new condition” items for local kids to shop, and additionally supporting children locally and internationally from our community of Seldovia! When I asked Laurel what items tend to FLY off the shelves, she mentioned: “Kids love pretty things for their moms, fun things for their siblings, and guy things for their dads. We just ask that the donations be quality items in good condition. Gift wrap, bows and ribbon are in short supply this year, so we could definitely use some of those if people have any spare items around.”
If you would like to donate items (including wrapping paper, tissue, bows or cards) – please take them to Tina at the front desk upstairs at SVT, and if you want to be a part of the event and volunteer to help kids shop or to wrap gifts – you are so welcome to come and help on Friday! Thanks for showing your Christmas Spirit of Generosity!
Merry Christmas Seldovia
by Jenny Chissus
These photos were taken this morning and afternoon – we had a gorgeous sunny day – and a truly beautiful White Christmas! Enjoy!
Merry Christmas Seldovia!
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“Blessing Boxes” go out to Local Families Today
by Ian McGaughey
On Friday, December 21st at 10:00am at Seldovia Bible Chapel, volunteers continued what has become a Seldovia Christmas tradition. “Blessings Boxes” full of turkeys and items to make a complete Christmas dinner were packed and then distributed to approximately 50 area families.
“This is an effort to minister to the physical food needs of our neighbors while serving the spiritual need of celebrating Christmas,” Pastor Jonathon Hoard said. “We want to share the blessings the Lord has blessed us with.”
Seldovia Village Tribe partnered with Seldovia Bible Chapel to purchase nearly 50 turkeys and other items from Safeway and Country Foods.
“This tradition has been going on for over 20+ years” Seldovia Village Tribe President and CEO Crystal Collier said. “It’s an important part of Christmas, sharing with those in our community. We thank all those that volunteer to pack boxes and deliver, those that transported the food to Seldovia and Seldovia Bible Chapel for partnering in the joy of this provision.”
Pilot Don Sellinger donated his services flying the roughly 800 pounds of turkey to Seldovia, while Homer Air donated the transport of countless canned goods. Even with all the food, volunteers find room in the Blessing Boxes for a little something extra.
“If we know that there is a child at the residence, we’ll include a toy,” Pastor Hoard said. “We also like to include a small book or DVD that discusses the true meaning of Christmas.”
The Blessing Boxes are a natural extension of services run by both organizations. The Seldovia Bible Chapel has an informal food program based on donations, while Seldovia Village Tribe offers an extensive Food Distribution Program administered by the US Department of Agriculture.
Seldovia-area residents interested in learning more about the Food Bank can contact Debbie Cameron, SVT CHR at 435-3255.
Christmas Shopping in Seldovia
by Jenny Chissus
Christmas Shopping is going on today! Tiffany at Creationz is open from 10-2 today, and next week, on Christmas Eve, in addition to her normal hours, she will be opening the store from 10:00am to 3:00pm for last minute shoppers!
Today until 5:00pm stop by the Multi-purpose room, where you can find the Holiday Craft Bazaar with many beautiful handmade gifts for giving this Christmas!
Please also note that the Tribal Cache Gift store is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until Christmas!
Also – don’t forget that tonight at 7pm is the Seldovia Arts Council’s concert – featuring Alex Mabey! See you there!
Christmas Nativity and Children’s Bell Choir to Ring in the Celebration of Christmas
by Pastor Jonathan Hoard
Seldovia Time
