Popular tradition
The Holiday Store
From the perspective of C&S clients, The Holiday Store each December was, and continues to be, perhaps the most impactful and memorable seasonal event that our volunteers and residents/businesses provided almost from the inception of Care & Share of East Lyme.
Tradition . . . tradition . . . tradition
The Story
The Story
Historians have collected photos taken over the years from volunteers and friends of Care & Share. Though sites and dates are unmarked on some of the pictures, the spirit of the many seasons is remarkable.
These photos help everyone recall those first holiday seasons when the Founders and Leaders of Care & Share perceived a need and responded with what has become a long-anticipated tradition each year.
The Story
Outfitted (col 1) Volunteers (col 2) Shoppers (Col 3)
CLothes . . . toys . . . . games . . . gifts
In any given year, the expectation that the tradition of the Care & Share Holiday Store will continue is certainly not a foregone conclusion.
Planning for the next year's Store begins when the last table is collapsed and the floor swept clean in late December to return the space to the generous building owner who donated the space.
Like for many other community services provided by Care & Share, the all-volunteer crews never know from day-to-day or year-to-year if there will be space available, if there will be sufficient help, if funds and donations will meet the ever-increasing need our neighbors have for assistance.