Free Shopping make Christmas dreams come true

Nov. 30—In the words of Dr. Seuss, "Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more." But maybe it can come from a store — a Free Shopping store, like the one operated by Chapman High School students who open the school and hearts to the magic of Christmas.

For more than 20 years Chapman High School students have coordinated an effort that has made Christmas dreams come true. And this year, the Family, Careers, Community Leaders of America students have collected and sorted nearly 4,400 pounds of donated toys, clothing, household items, tools, books kitchen items, movies, video games and more.

Although it is several days of work, the students say it is worth it to see the good the Free Shopping store does for the community.

Senior Madison Brown has worked the three-day event throughout her high school years and said she knows the impact it has made.

"Last year I had a woman come up to me and tell me that she really appreciates what we're doing because she has a son who has special needs and he would break all her plates," she said. "She was thankful she didn't have to go out and buy more plates; he would stay safe and she would stay safe."

FCCLA advisor and Family and Consumer Science instructor Sonya Anders has seen her share of cases where people found exactly what they needed at the Free Shopping.

Last year there was a woman who could not find a coat her size until they went to the Free Store.

"She acted like somebody gave her a million dollars," Anders said.

One year someone donated a mounted tire. Anders said she wondered how they would get rid of it when the Free Store closed because she did not believe anyone would need that exact tire.

"Somebody came in and saw that tire and that was the right size tire that fit their van," she said. "They were so excited because of how much money tires cost and they needed it. One year somebody brought in a cord of wood, and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, if somebody doesn't take this wood, what am I going to do with it?' I noticed one father was telling his family, 'We need to go because I need to cut wood because we're running out and we're not going to have enough wood for tonight if we don't go home and cut wood.' I told him I had a cord of wood they just had to load it up. Every year there's something like that."

It's stories like those that make the work worth it, and it is a lot of work, Brown said. The students meet at the school before classes start.

"It's a lot of lifting," she said. "The mornings are cold, and we help bring items in from the cars."

The Chapman High School wrestlers also pitched in to help with the heavy lifting.

Everything goes into a room and gets sorted and shelved. Anders said the set up is like what would see in a high-end department store — everything is neatly displayed or hung up.

"We have everything set up in sections," Brown said. "There'll be a baby section, a kid's section, an adult section, women's section, men's section, books and movies, games, a tool section, a lot of kitchen stuff, shoes, utensils ... ."

Getting the Free Store set up and ready is no small task, Anders said. This year the coordinator is high school student and FCCLA vice president of community service Linda Cuevas.

"Linda has done an excellent job organizing, and planning our clothing drive and the Free shopping event," Anders said. "She has worked really hard."

The Free Shopping is open to anyone who has a need. It can be for their household, items they need for day-to-day living or to give as Christmas gifts.

"One year I had a para that said their family wasn't going to have Christmas because the medicine for her husband was too expensive so they pretty much cancelled Christmas," she said. "I told her, 'Oh no, you're gonna have Christmas and you're gonna come shop free."

Anders said one way people can still help is if they know someone who could benefit from the Free Shopping but has not transportation, give them a ride.

Free Shopping at Chapman High School is 2:50 to 7 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 5 through Thursday Dec. 7. Entrance is through the northwest weight room doors.