Staff Photo by Laura-Chase McGehee/Chattanooga Times Free Press/ - Monica Green looks Christmas gifts for her two boys at the Hope for the Inner City's Christmas Store on Roanoke Avenue. Because her children are adopted, the Christmas Store provided Green with the gifts free of charge. Green says that the program is "wonderful" and she is thankful that a program like this exists. She said she "didn't know she would be the one who needed the program" so she feels "very blessed."Single mom Sherri Gray is two months behind on bills, but she will provide Christmas for her family because of Hope for the Inner City's Christmas Store.
"Oh, my God, this is a big help," she said this week while selecting gifts from the store for her own two children and two toddler nieces, of whom she has custody.
She got two gifts for each child and a bicycle.
The store has been open exclusively to no-income and low-income residents for the past week, but from 9 a.m. to noon today it will be open to the public.
"Toys are at low prices so people can afford to get gifts for their families," said Jerry Woods, Christmas Store coordinator.
On Thursday the store was stocked with two bikes, cell phones, a toy fire station, lots of stuffed animals, dolls, trains, action figures, puzzles and toy cars. There also were socks and winter hats for $1 or less.
Most new toys are priced between $2 and $10. New bikes marked in retail stores at $75 sell for $35 and $40 at the Christmas Store. Some items are donated, and some were purchased with money made from sales.
IF YOU GOWhat: Christmas Store open to publicWhen: 9 a.m. to noon todayWhere: Hope for the Inner City, 1800 Roanoke Ave.
The store has served about 150 families in the past week.
Sponsors gave $50 donations to support families with no income, but those with low incomes shopped with their own money.
"Some people don't want to be looked at as having someone do stuff for them," Woods said. "They want to feel like they provided toys for their kids."
The goal is to help people become empowered so that they can buy gifts, said Vincent Boozer, Hope for the Inner City's director of programs.
"This was a blessing for me and my children," Gray said. "At this time we can't really afford a lot, but we still got gifts."
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at 757-6431 or yputman@timesfreepress.com.