Chattanooga's North Shore may more resemble the North Pole this weekend as merchants in the district present their annual Holiday Open House. More than 50 locally owned businesses in the NorthShore Merchants Collective are taking part in the open house, set for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 22-24.
Shoppers will find in-store specials and can register to win a gift basket valued at $2,000. But there's also a way to give back - via a toy drive benefiting Northside Neighborhood House, a nonprofit serving areas north of the river.
Each holiday season, NNH stocks its Santa's Workshop with toys for children from birth to 15 years old. Parents in need are able to "shop" for their children there, choosing one piece of sporting equipment, one game, two large toys, three small toys, one stuffed animal, one book, one craft, crayons and stocking stuffers for each child.
In just five years, according to a news release, NNH has gone from providing for 250 children to nearly 550. Santa's Workshop is stocked entirely by donations.
Anyone wishing to contribute a new, unwrapped toy may leave it at any of a number of North Shore businesses. Many are offering a discount or other incentive to those who donate.
Toy drop-off locations (and their incentives) are Barefoot Bandits ($5 gift card for each donated toy), Blue Skies, Epiphany Salon, Fitness Together, Frankie & Julian's (20 percent off one item for each donated toy), Gigi's Cupcakes and Yogurt (coupon for free yogurt or cupcake), Good Dog (one free hot dog), K: A Boutique by Katherine Roberts (20 percent off one full-price item), Knitting Mill Antiques (free photo with the NorthShore Santa), Learning Express (20 percent off any toys purchased for donation), Merch (10 percent off one item), n2shoes ($10 off a $50 purchase), Northside Lunch, Plum Nelly ($5 off $25 or more purchase), Taco Mamacita (10 percent discount), Tangerina's (free ornament) and Sophie's (15 percent off one item).
As toys are collected, they will be displayed in a winter scene in the window of Blue Skies at 30 Frazier Ave. to gauge the drive's progress and to encourage more giving.
More information is available at www.face book.com/northshore chattanooga.