It’s a tradition that’s taken place in Walker Baptist Association for more than two decades — Christmas Shops at nursing homes.
Kelly Wright, who serves as the Woman’s Missionary Union director for the association, said more than 20 churches participated this year by donating items or volunteering at the Christmas Shops held Dec. 10 in five nursing homes in the county: Shadescrest Health Care Center in Jasper; Ridgeview Health Services in Jasper; Ridgewood Health Care Center in Jasper; Walker Rehabilitation Center in Carbon Hill; and Cordova Health and Rehabilitation in Cordova.
Donations such as pajamas, flannel shirts, socks, blankets, throw pillows, dolls, stuffed animals, hair brushes, underwear, body wash and more were collected through Dec. 9 at individual churches and then taken to each nursing home assigned to that particular group of churches, Wright explained.
Her church, New Canaan Baptist Church, Jasper, was assigned to serve at Ridgewood, for example.
Volunteers set out donations on tables at each nursing home and residents, who “absolutely love the Christmas Shops,” lined up and picked three items that they wanted and placed them in their bag they were given at the door.
“Sometimes it’s the only time of year they get any gift,” Wright said. “Or they don’t have family around. … I can’t begin to tell you what a blessing it is.”
Residents also sometimes find items they want to give their family members who come for a visit, Wright said. After every resident is given a chance to “shop,” any remaining items were donated to the nursing home to be used “as prizes throughout the year for bingo,” Wright said.
“If you could just go one time and see what a blessing it is, you’ll want to go back every year.”
For more information, call the associational office at 205-387-1820.
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