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NFCC Santa Shop Provides Toys To Needy Families It’s not too late to participate.
DEC 2013
The Gift They Won't Return
By Matthew W. Quinn Parents faced with the unpleasant choice of providing holiday gifts for their children or paying for essential needs can turn to North Fulton Community Charities for help this month. NFCC Director of Programs Eden Purdy said the Santa Shop is part of the NFCC holiday program, which began with a coat drive and moves through November with a Thanksgiving food drive. The Santa Shop is a giant toy store set up for the parents who are qualified and receive help from NFCC. They can come and with the help of a volunteer personal shopper select toys, gifts, and gift cards for their children. NFCC has had its holiday program for the last 27 years. The Santa Shop has been around in some form or fashion the whole time. Purdy said the purpose of the holiday program, including the Santa Shop, is to help families stay stable without increasing the financial stress the holidays can bring as well as avoid the discouragement and disappointment of knowing one must choose between essentials like food, rent, or electricity and providing gifts or a special meal for one’s family. All this is made possible by the many volunteers. The holiday program has 2,000 volunteers, with around 600 participating in the Santa Shop. Volunteers will help set up Dec. 18–20 and when the shop is open Dec. 21–22, assist the families shopping and help load cars. Notable organizations providing volunteers include the United Way, the Young Men’s Service League, and North Point Community Church. One of the biggest parts of the Santa Shop is the used bike drive. NFCC has a group of men who gather used bicycles and retool them to be as close to new as possible. When parents come to the Santa Shop, they can get a bike for each child.
New Toys And Gifts Collection Sites 1425 Market Boulevard, Roswell. (Former CompUSA, near the intersection of Holcomb Bridge Road and Ga. 400. Times: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Dec. 19 NFCC’s Main Facility, 11270 Elkins Road, Roswell Dec. 20. Visit nfcchelp.org
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Father, Phil O’Donnell, and son provide last minute repairs to donated bicycles. Brian Mullenbach of Johns Creek oversees the bike drive. Eight years ago he, his wife, and their three children volunteered to be “Santa’s Helpers” at the Santa Shop. There he saw one of the most sought-after gifts were bicycles. “One of the mothers I worked with wanted two bikes for her kids but the program had run out,” he said. “That touched my heart. So we decided to do what we could to keep that from happening again.” The first year, Mullenbach didn’t know what to expect when he put pink fliers in every mailbox in the neighborhood asking for unwanted bikes. His family was astonished to collect 65 bikes. “After that year, we knew we had an idea that would work,” he said. The next year they recruited friends, spreading the collection through multiple neighborhoods, and collected 265 bikes. This year the bike collection team has canvassed over 80 neighborhoods in three counties and held bike drives at several churches to support not only NFCC but also Rainbow Village, The Drake House, and the Holiday Giving Tree for Kids. All 600 bikes collected this year will be donated or dismantled for the parts needed to CONTINUED 30
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