It’s Back! The Best Event of the Year!
We know that family fun is important - it’s one of the main pillars of our program! If you've been around here awhile you have most likely heard us talk about the benefits - creating memories, strengthening their family bonds and even increasing self-esteem! This is so important and so often a barrier to families who struggle to find experiences that both, their child with disabilities and their typical kids, can do together.
To Pause, family fun events are more than just creating memories, we give space to capture memories. Recently, a family shared with us that Pause experiences are the reason their family has photos together. In fact, they now have enough photos to create a scrapbook…a place to capture memories of their time together as a family! We love that!
The next experience to capture these family memories is just 37 days away at the Winter Wonderland Holiday Shoppe - most known for the infamous Holiday Shoppe Boutique where kids are the only customers allowed! Using “elf bucks” given to the kids by Pause staff, children are able to pick a gift for every family member living in their home. One of the best parts of the event is watching the beaming smiles as kids pick up their wrapped gifts knowing they get to surprise their loved ones. (Disclaimer: not all gifts make it to the intended holiday - and sometimes not past the Pause lobby which is one of our favorite things!)
When sharing about past Holiday Shoppe experiences, one parent told another to “bring their phone fully charged as there will be tons of activities and photo opportunities” - they aren’t wrong! While kids are waiting for their shopping experience to begin, they have access to over 35 games and activities including the much anticipated Santa visit. Our Santa is a bit special and because he returns year after year he remembers their names, what they asked for last year and what is special about them. It’s just another way we try to bring intentionality and a family feel to our big events.
We still need YOU to help make this event the BIGGEST and BEST one yet! In fact, because our enrollment has grown so much over the past year, we are now offering 3 Holiday Shoppe sessions for our families. That means a lot of volunteers, supplies and food!
Here are THREE ways you can help make it possible for families to attend this annual holiday tradition:
1. Share your TIME with us! Volunteer at the Holiday Shoppe on December 1st and/or December 2nd.
Volunteer as a...
Holiday Shoppe Personal Shopper - Pair up with our Pause kiddos to help them make gift selections for their family members in the Holiday Shoppe.
Holiday Shoppe Store Attendant - Spend the day in our Holiday Shoppe! Keep our store stocked and neat as kiddos come through with their personal shoppers.
Holiday Shoppe Gift Wrapper - Love to wrap?! This one's for you! Wrap gifts kiddos select and package them for our families to take home.
Craft/Activity Station Leader - Lead a craft, activity or a game! As families wait for their turn to shop, there will be tons of stations to visit!
Runner/Station Helper - Want to be active? Join the runner team and help us support other volunteers and keep the day moving!
Food Team Helper - Word on the street is you're the favorite! We will have a snack stand to spread the fun! (No math required - this snack stand only has free food!)
2. Share your TALENT with us!
Donate your artistic or decorating skills! Are you super creative and want to help us create the magical experience? Reach out to us for volunteer opportunities from Wednesday, November 29th from 9-2pm, Thursday, November 30th from 12:30-4:30pm OR Thursday, November 30th from 4-8pm!
Donate your musical talents! Play an instrument, have a good voice or both? Come play some music or do some caroling in our lobby!
3. Share your RESOURCES with us! Looking for another way to get involved?
Donate gifts for the store! We are looking for gifts to stock our store for babies, kids, teens, moms, dads and pets! Amazon and Dollar Tree are great places to shop! (Ship directly to us or drop off during office hours.)
Sponsor our volunteer appreciation meals! We’re taking this opportunity to appreciate our volunteers for all their hard work this year. Interested in donating coffee, juice, donuts, muffins, or pastries? Or maybe you’d prefer to cater it yourself! Either way, we would LOVE it and our volunteers will too!
Donate wrapping supplies! We will have A LOT of gifts to wrap. Consider donating holiday themed gift bags (all sizes), tissue paper, gift tags or holiday wrapping paper. Walmart, Amazon or Dollar Tree have great selections!
Donate food for our snack stand! We’ve also got over 500 mouths to feed! Consider donating individually packaged cookies, chips, popcorn, healthy snacks, water, or juice.
Help create family memories this holiday season and get involved with the Pause Holiday Shoppe! It’s an easy and FUN way to make a difference and the smiles make it all worth it!
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
