BEMIDJI 鈥� In a little Bemidji apartment twinkling with holiday lights, children and families in the Ridgeway neighborhood had the chance to choose gifts for their loved ones and celebrate the holiday season.
The event was hosted on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings by the volunteer organization Neighborhood Connections, formerly Ridgeway Neighborhood Initiative, and it allowed children to pick out gifts for their parents, siblings and other family members free of charge.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 a blessing,鈥� one elderly resident shared. 鈥淚t helps a lot of people at Christmastime when they don鈥檛 have the money to spend.鈥�
Upon entering the apartment, which serves as Neighborhood Connections鈥� base of operations, residents were met with lights, Christmas trees and tables practically overflowing with gifts. Hot chocolate and cookies were provided and a small room had complimentary gift-wrapping services.
Volunteers spent weeks preparing the event, starting in November with the distribution of fliers. As it drew closer, work focused on decorating the apartment, and purchasing and organizing the gifts.
The supply of presents, which included selections for men, women and children, came from a combination of community donations and items purchased with a $1,500 grant the organization received to help support the event.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much generosity among volunteers and community organizations,鈥� explained Becky Bergquist, the lead organizer for the event. 鈥�(That makes it) a pretty easy event to coordinate.鈥�
Along with planning out the details of the holiday store, Bergquist also coordinated the volunteers, with representatives from Sanford Health and the Bemidji Police Department among the many community organizations represented.
Convincing people to help out wasn鈥檛 a challenge, Bergquist said, since the volunteers enjoy the event just as much as the residents.
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鈥淭he families seem to really enjoy it, and the kids have a lot of fun,鈥� Bergquist said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 why people want to come out and volunteer for it, you can just see the joy on people鈥檚 faces.鈥�
This year marked the third annual holiday store event, and since its first year, the number of residents who attend has grown considerably.
For many residents, it's something they look forward to 鈥� especially the children.
鈥淚 like it, it鈥檚 fun and it鈥檚 really cool that they do this for everyone,鈥� one child said. 鈥淭his is the best place ever.鈥�
The event is centered on generosity, both on the part of the community members who help to organize it and from the children as they carefully choose gifts for their siblings, cousins, parents and grandparents.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really something where we can all come together and see what we can do for each other,鈥� shared another resident.
Even for the adults who might not have been choosing the gifts, the event served as an opportunity to connect with neighbors, laugh with their children and enjoy a fun evening together.
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By the end of the second night, more than 80 people, including 52 children had attended. The cookies were nearly gone, and the few remaining gifts were carefully packed away for next year鈥檚 event.
With this year's holiday store behind it, Neighborhood Connections is moving on to its next events. It hopes to host monthly activities until the beginning of summer when the organization will start hosting its biweekly picnics.
鈥淚t's such a community effort, made up of so many volunteers who make this event happen and all of the other events,鈥� Bergquist said. 鈥淲e have a really strong core group, and we鈥檙e always looking for new volunteers to help out.鈥�
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