Story provided by Junior Service League of Stillwater
With the launch of the Operation Christmas Store, the Stillwater Junior Service League (JSL) and the Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency (COCAA) have joined together again for their combined mission to assist local families during the 2019 holiday season.
Operation Christmas Store serves income-eligible families in Payne County. It allows eligible families to ‘buy’ new Christmas gifts for their children by completing a few hours of community service. The store is set up by age, gender, and price point. Shoppers can select 1 gift from each price range per child 18 or younger. Families also get stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, and a box of food donated from the Harvest II collection.
“Christmas is the most wonderful time of year. Every child deserves something on Christmas morning to show them they are loved,” says Diana Holm, 2019 Operation Christmas Chair. “I am so proud to be a part of an organization that loves and gives their all serving our community. Junior Service League is a group of amazing women and our goal this Christmas is to assist families in giving them the Christmas they deserve.”
For the last 9 years, the two organizations have worked with Payne County businesses and members of the community to create a festive and happy atmosphere for all qualified families during the holiday season by collecting new, unwrapped toys to stock the Store. Donations will be taken through December 5th at the following locations: Stillwater YMCA, Dollar General, BancFirst, InterWorks, and Prairie Arts.
The Operation Christmas Season kicks off with the Stillwater Christmas Parade of Lights to be held on Thursday, December 5th. This year’s theme is “Jingle Bell Christmas.” It’s a great, community-wide tradition to start off the holiday season!
About the Junior Service League of Stillwater
The Junior Service League of Stillwater is composed of local women who have a heart to meet our community’s needs through service. Since 1984, the group consists of approximately 30 women who meet monthly and serve on committees to execute educational and charitable community missions through volunteerism.
Editor’s Note: Operation Christmas is a separate one from Payne County Youth Services Adopt-a-Family. Be sure to see the story in the December 2019 issue to read about that program.