MOOSE JAW — Two residents are continuing the work of a former community worker by running a Christmas store at two local schools, thereby helping children buy affordable gifts for their loved ones each year.
One of these stores was set up at Prince Arthur School on Dec. 12.
“It’s not a fundraiser; it’s trying to teach children the art of giving,” announced Larry Hellings, a Moose Jaw resident who was nominated for Citizen of the Year in 2023 and runs the store with his wife, Dianne.
The Christmas store first opens at Prince Arthur and then moves to St. Agnes School. Inventory is stored in around 100 plastic tubs Hellings uses for transportation and is complemented with further reserves in his trailer and at home.
The store is stocked year-round with donations from friends, family, and through word of mouth referrals. The system ensures children can find a thoughtful and affordable gift, and anything that can’t be stored is forwarded to the Salvation Army or other charitable groups.
Organized across rows of tables in the school’s gym, each class visits separately and students pick something for their parents, siblings, and close relatives. Each item costs 25 cents flat and, if a student doesn’t have the change, Hellings will make the exception.
These gifts are then wrapped on site with the help of teachers and a few generous volunteers.
The Christmas store began at Prince Arthur in 2013 and St. Agnes in 2015, and has continued ever since — interrupted only during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our grandchildren have all gone to St. Agnes School,” Hellings said. “We knew the principal, and she had said that they were losing their community worker because of budgeting.”
Hellings learned that this worker came up with the idea for a small store held in the school’s music room each December. With her no longer working at the school, the project was destined to be discontinued.
The retired couple agreed to keep the venture going and have expanded its scope from Kindergarten to Grade 3 to now include the entire student body.
“So then we decided, look, let’s do this proper,” he said. “We started setting up tables in the gym and started telling some of our friends and got a lot more donations.”
Children enjoy the shopping experience, Hellings said. “It’s amazing what children and their families don’t have. You don’t realize that until you get involved here.”
Giftable items range from coffee mugs packed with chocolates to unopened modern electronics. Some noteworthy purchases have included an unused bed in a bag and $80 bottles of shampoo — all sold for a quarter.
“The children are absolutely amazing,” he said. “I can’t believe some of the things they check out. They really think about what they’re going to buy for their loved ones.”
Most donations come through word of mouth from local individuals, businesses, and groups like the Optimist Club. Contributions also come from relatives as far away as Regina, Saskatoon, and Medicine Hat.
Hellings’ trailer was donated by Derek McRitchie at Ottawa Real Estate, and Tim Knittig from Simcoe Draperies provides courtesy bubble wrap each year for packing.
“I’d like to compliment the staff, administration, and the school boards. They’re totally, 100 per cent co-operative with us,” Hellings added. “They get the tables for us, they let us use the gym for two days, and they’re very good to us. We couldn’t do this without them.”
Hellings hasn’t requested widespread donations for the store, but said anyone who knows him can inquire to donate new or gently used items, toys, boxes, or wrapping paper. “Well, I won’t say no,” he concluded with a smile.
