November 20, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Christmas is the season for giving and children who participate in this year’s 5th Annual Regifting Event will have a chance to experience that by doing something special for their parents and total strangers.
Regifting gives children ages 5 to 12 an opportunity to shop for their parents or caregivers at no cost. The gifts are then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving.
This year’s Regifting Event will be on Saturday, December 7 from 9 a.m. until noon or until all gifts are gone at the DeKalb County Complex. Families must pre-register their children through December 3 in order to receive a door prize.
Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something.
“We let kids come in and shop for their parents or caregivers. It’s not income based. It’s for anybody. They shop for free, wrap the presents, and fill out the card,” said Kim Walker, who organizes the annual event.
The children are then asked to prepare a blessing bag to be given to others.
“This year we are doing the blessing bags for the homeless ministry called Compassionate Hands”. The bags may include a blanket, socks, cup, toothbrush, and a toy. In the past we have done it for emergency foster care, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, residents at NHC, and the homeless shelter,” said Walker.
For their good deeds each of the children get to take home a goodie bag.
Walker said the hope is the children take home more than that. “We’re trying to share God’s love with kids to plant a seed so that no matter how old they are they always remember to help somebody else”.
The kids and other volunteers will also decorate a quilt square. “After they decorate the quilt squares we put them together and donate the quilt to somebody who needs a blessing in the community due to a health or life challenging issue,” said Walker.
If you need more information or would like to volunteer call or text Kim Walker at 931-212-7567, Chelsye Madden at 931-247-3369, or Joanna Fuson at 615-517-9100. You may email patchworkuc@outlook.com
A drop box is available at the World Finance in Smithville