Kids will get help from shopping “elves” at UCO's Santa’s Secret Shoppe on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 from 9-12 in Oxford, New York.

The Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Oxford (UCO) will soon be transformed into “Santa’s Secret Shoppe” on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. -12 p.m.  This one-day-a-year opportunity is a not to be missed special gift shopping time (mostly) for kids, but good for adults too!

The Brisben Doers will be helping the volunteers from St. Joseph's Church, the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Oxford.  Santa’s Secret Shoppe will have many volunteer “elves” that will show the children buyers around and assist them with their selections and gift wrapping.  Once again, some of the helper elves will be Oxford NBT employees!

Here’s how it works: Kids should plan to come prepared with gift lists and some money.  They will be directed to the large Hall filled with many display tables brimming with hand crafted goodies and gently used items.  (Get a good night’s sleep before hand as there will be many difficult choices to make--but the elves will help, if desired.)  Come early, as there will be lots of brisk buying.  The fortunate young shoppers only have to spend prices ranging from $.25 to $2.00 as everything is scaled to their economy.

Selections each year are different, but in the past, there have been books, dolls, jewelry, potholders, mugs, cat toys, book marks, purses, stuffed animals, and lots, lots, more!

While the children do their shopping, the grown-ups will be sequestered into another room.  This year there will be more items in the Grown-Up’s Room, so they’ll have some difficult choices to make too!  Parents get their own “shopping elf” to help them with their purchases, such as embroidered pieces, holiday decorations, and assorted hand-knit and crocheted items.  The bake sale table will be back too, with lots of wonderfully fresh baked goodies.  After difficult budgeting and decision making, there will be delicious cookies in the refreshments room, where children meet up with their parents at the end.

The United Church of Oxford is located in Fort Hill Park, Oxford. For more info, contact the UCO office at 843-5195.

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