The goal this year for the privately funded event is $65,000. The group -- and the community -- are in the final push to raise the money to meet that goal. To contribute, make your check payable to The Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation (LBNF) and send it to LBNF / BBLB, P.O. Box 16325, Long Beach, CA 90806. Be sure to put "BBLB Christmas Store" in the memo area. Donations can also be made via PayPal at www.LBFoundation.org. Look for the Donations button in the yellow bar near the top of the page. Be sure to put "BBLB Christmas Store" in the "purpose" box.
Monies in hand on November 30 will dictate how many families can be invited. A team of volunteer shoppers leverage the donors' dollars by buying brand new gifts at wholesale cost! All donations are tax deductible! As a donor you are invited to be at the grand opening of the store at 10am.
The Store is also looking for volunteers. All volunteers need to be pre-registered. There are no "walk ups" the day of the event. To volunteer contact BBLB member Dan Pressburg at BBLB.ChristmasStore@gmail.com with your name, contact information and what shift you want to work. The morning shift is from 8am to 12:30pm. The afternoon shift is from noon to 4:30pm.
Families come by invitation and appointment only. Volunteer Elves assist with the gift choosing. It is a real shopping experience for the families who get to choose gifts for other members of their family at no charge. The kids even get to choose gifts for their parents. If you know of a family who needs help with their Christmas gifts this year, lives in Long Beach or Signal Hill and is not participating in another program, please contact your City Council office about submitting the family’s name for an invitation. BBLB does not take direct requests for invitations.
According to BBLB member Jack Smith, "This event creates lasting, happy Christmas memories for families who, without the help of the Store, might not have any Christmas presents this year. It’s a festive, fun and heartwarming day for all the donors, volunteers and families. We all look forward to this event every year."
Better Balance for Long Beach, the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation and hundreds of volunteers will, once again, create the "One Day Christmas Store -- Shopping With Dignity" in the beautiful and calm atmosphere of the Seaside Rooms at the Convention Center to help hundreds of families have a happier Christmas.
For more information about the store and to see a video, visit the BBLB website at www.BetterBalanceLongBeach.org . The e-mail address is BBLB.ChristmasStore@gmail.com
