Where the holiday spirit lives
Christmas Store offers affordable yule favorites

Vera Garcia stands surrounded by some of the toys and other Christmas items for sale at the Christmas Store area of the Gallup Catholic Charities thrift store at 506 W. U.S. Highway 66 in Gallup. Many of the donated toys and items are new and have been collected throughout the year for the sale. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — On Monday, when Vera Garcia opens the doors of the Christmas Store in the Catholic Charities Thrift Shop, she’ll be offering more than just new toys, freshly washed clothes, and refurbished holiday decorations for sale.

She’ll be offering low income parents and grandparents a way to stretch their money to purchase gifts for their children and grandchildren without receiving a handout.

“I feel it gives them a sense of pride to be able to buy their things,” said Garcia, the volunteer manager of the thrift shop. Community members donate used clothing and household items throughout the year, Garcia explained, and they donate new toys during the holiday season.

Garcia then puts all of the toys and many of the other items in a special Christmas Store that is open during the two weeks prior to Christmas. Low income parents and grandparents who wouldn’t otherwise be able to purchase many gifts for their children and grandchildren are then invited to shop in the store. Prices generally don’t exceed $5, Garcia explained. Although she admitted there are always some people who try to take advantage of charitable programs, she believes the majority of the Christmas Store customers are genuinely deserving of the assistance.

This year the Christmas Store will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, Dec. 10-21. It is located in the Catholic Charities building at 506 W. U.S. Highway 66.

Garcia believes the store is mostly ready for its first customers on Monday, but she said it could use a few more new dolls. A recent “Breakfast with Santa” event, sponsored by the Diocese of Gallup, brought in many good toys, she said, but there have been fewer donations of dolls this year. The store tries to offer a selection of items for children of all ages, she added, from babies to teenagers. Anyone interested in donating a new toy to the store is welcome to do so through Friday, Dec. 21. During the rest of the year, she added, she particularly welcomes baby clothes and children’s clothes in good condition as well as household furniture.

Garcia believes it’s important to give people the opportunity to buy items rather than just receive a handout. That emphasis on pride is also reflected in the cleanliness of the store and its inventory.

A former elementary school librarian, Garcia retired from the Gallup McKinley County Schools after 23 years at Jefferson Elementary. After several years of caring for her grandson, Garcia said she looked around for meaningful volunteer work. A notice in a church bulletin led her to the thrift shop.

“I’m starting my tenth year,” she said of her full-time, nonpaid position running the store. “I love this job,” she added.

Working in the thrift store has allowed Garcia to meet generous people in the community. Several people make regular donations of nice items to the store year-round, she said. And then there’s the prominent couple that Garcia said probably wouldn’t want to be identified. After moving to town about a year ago, she explained, they came into the store, talked to Garcia, and learned about the shop. Ever since then, she said, the couple delivers about $300 worth of nonperishable food to the store each month for Garcia to share with the homeless people and needy families who stop in looking for help.

“I call them my angels,” she said of the couple.

Although Garcia said people have criticized her for volunteering her services rather than earning money in a paid position, she is happy working in the thrift shop.

“Hey, I’m working for the Lord,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”