The holidays came early for 105 boys and girls between the ages of five and 12 last Tuesday morning as they were set loose inside the Sears store at 302 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica to select coats, sweaters, shoes and other winter-time necessities, just in time for the holiday season.
Volunteer chaperones from the community, including Santa Monica police officers and firefighters, Pepperdine University and UCLA students, as well as local service group members, guided the children through the store to help them shop.
This event marks the 29th year The Salvation Army Santa Monica Corps has partnered with Sears.
The annual event has given more than 2,100 children shopping sprees since the partnership first began. Gift cards valued at $100 were purchased by The Salvation Army with the help of a generous discount from Sears.
The Santa Monica High School Choir even caroled for the children as they shopped between 8 am and 9:30 am.
This event kicked off The Salvation Army Santa Monica Corps’ Christmas season, when it will be raising money for families in need through its iconic red kettles stationed at storefronts throughout the city.
For more information on The Salvation Army in Southern California, visit www.salvationarmy-socal.org. To help a child in need in your community, contribute to red kettles or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
