
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 25, 1994                   TAG: 9411250030
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER|
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED `CHRISTMAS STORE' NAME

Last year, Community Christmas Store sponsors worried that their first-time effort wouldn't draw the support needed to provide nearly 200 needy families with a place to "shop" for holiday gifts.

But this year, the store has a hint of name recognition. That's been a plus for sponsors, who are trying to fill a huge amount of donated space in Salem with toys, clothing and food for an anticipated 500 families.

"People have been wonderful this year," said Kathy Walker, co-chairwoman of the store's planning committee. "We had a lot of repeat donations."

The store was founded on the premise of serving needy families, senior citizens and disabled people in a manner that was dignified and that would allow them choice, rather than flat-out handouts.

"Who better to select the kind of toy their child might play with or the style of clothes their teen-ager will wear than the parents?" said Teresa Thomas, chairwoman of the store's publicity committee. "It's much better for them to make selections than for us to make them for them."

The store has grown since last year, both in size and in the number of people who have applied for services. Store volunteers have accepted 387 applications and expect 500 total before the Wednesday deadline.

The store serves Roanoke County, Salem and Vinton residents, most of them clients of the county Department of Social Services. Janie Whitlow, a store co-chairwoman, said she and other sponsors hope at some point to serve the entire Roanoke Valley.

The store, housed in a vacant building at West Salem Plaza on Main Street in Salem, will be stocked with toys, new and used clothing for adults and children, household items, holiday decorations, gifts and canned and nonperishable foods.

"We still need children's coats, new children's clothing - especially jeans and sweaters - new and used adult winter clothing, food items; and for seniors we need things like walkers and tub rails," Thomas said.

The store will be open Dec. 9 and 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday is the last day it will accept used goods. Items can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Other items can be taken to the store Monday through Thursday from 6-8:30 p.m. and Dec. 5-7, noon to 8 p.m.

For more information, call Mary Shelton at 387-4302 or Jody Moir at 989-5927. Anyone wishing to volunteer may call Judy Barricks at 380-2211.

by CNB