The St. Joseph YWCA will be opening its Christmas Store later this month for families at the YWCA Shelter.

YWCA Training and Outreach Coordinator Carrie Turner said the store is filled with donations so moms can go in to shop.

“They get to pick out their gifts for their kids and wrap them and really get a part and a feel for their ownership in Christmas, so it’s a pretty exciting time around here,” Turner said.

According to Turner, there are currently 30 kids in the shelter ages zero to 18 and there is a need for gifts for teenagers, especially teenage boys.

“Maybe some ear buds, maybe a skateboard, maybe a basketball game for their room… keep them in your thoughts and really think about what they’re needing,” Turner said.

Turner said donations can be brought to the YWCA before the store is set up December 17th.

“There’s really no deadline, our moms are wrapping up stuff until the day of. We have such a fluid population, we don’t know if a new mom has to come here on Christmas Eve,” Turner said. “Things that are left over after Christmas, we store back into our secret closet and… then we have a gift for (a) child if they are here for their birthday… we’re going to have some of those stored back to serve our children not only in December, but also in July.”

Turner said they also accept monetary donations. New, unwrapped gifts or monetary donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the YWCA office at 304 North 8th Street. Turner said to call and set up a time if something needs to be dropped off outside of those hours.

For more information, click here or contact the YWCA at (816) 232-4481 or email Carrie at [email protected].