Santa Shop

Save the Date!

Dear Santa Shop Donors,

Because of your generous support over the years, we will be celebrating our 19th year of providing holiday gifts for the children of Hospitality House Food Pantry clients through our Santa Shop event. 

Due to an abundance of caution surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Santa Shop planning team has been forced to reevaluate the event.  The traditional trimmings and personal contact with our clients that we have cherished in past years is just not an option this year.  We will work diligently to creatively bring the Christmas spirit to all the children and, at the same time, protect the health of everyone involved.

As you know, in the past our main mission was to collect hundreds of toys and gifts for children who were guests of the Pantry.  In lieu of specific gifts this year, we will offer gift cards to the parents of these children so they can purchase appropriate items.  Within this system, we believe we can ensure that not only will  children receive gifts but that families can prioritize for their specific needs as we all struggle with the uncertainties of what the pandemic will bring in the future.

In August, we kicked off a fundraising campaign to support the purchase of gift cards for every Hospitality House client family with children between newborn and 18. If you are willing and able to support Santa Shop this year, we are providing two options which will hopefully make that process easy for you:

Hospitality House Food Pantry
PO Box 284
Walled Lake, MI 48390If you would like to host a fundraiser through your organization or business using Facebook or GoFundMe, we would be glad to assist you.  An option would be simply to encourage people to contribute using our existing GoFundMe campaign.  Please do not send gift cards as we have the resources to bulk-purchase gift cards.  We will distribute the cards the first week of December.

We are grateful for your continued support of Hospitality House and Santa Shop.  The number of families we serve has grown significantly in 2020. Without the kindness and generosity of our community, we could not be as effective as we have been.  You are making a difference!

If you have any questions or need assistance, please email us at hhsantashop@gmail.com and we will answer you as soon as possible.


Most Sincerely and with Gratitude on behalf of the Santa Shop Planning Team,

Pam Janson
Support the Santa Shop Now!
  • 001 Christmas Tree With Balls And A Star On Top

    Helping Instill the Spirit of Christmas

Santa Shop is a major undertaking every year with more than 600 children having a wonderful Christmas because of the dedicated work of our Holiday Elves.  Early in the fall our elves begin the work of contacting local businesses and donors to secure age appropriate gifts for client children ranging in age from birth to 18.

In keeping with our client choice pantry plan, Santa Shop provides a free shopping experience for clients who assisted by an elf escort, make selections from a puzzle table, a book table, a clothing table, a game table and so on as they choose gifts for their children.  A wrapping station is provided, while Santa visits, and craft areas are arranged to keep children occupied as parents shop. Even a dancing dreidle has been known to be seen.

Elves know how much is available and how many children need a visit from Santa and effectively lead families to select the right number of gifts so everyone’s need is met while making sure there are few unclaimed gifts.

Volunteer Form
“I wanted to say thank-you so much for the Christmas help and the help I get for being able to come twice a month the hospitality house to get food! My kids really enjoyed their Christmas presents.  There is a no way I could have made Christmas happen without your Christmas help!  The kids look forward to every other Monday because they know I am going to Hospitality House. The food we get from the hospitality house is what I make up for our dinners and breakfast.  There is no way my kids and I could eat every night without the help of the hospitality house! I really appreciate the Christmas and the food help!  Thank-you so much!” M. Price

In addition, a supply of gifts are available for children to select to have wrapped and give their parents.  Stuffed stockings are available for everyone.

You can be a part of this exciting and very satisfying event by volunteering to:

  • Join the elves in the Fall to begin procuring gifts
  • Organize gifts as donations begin
  • Pick up gifts at gift sites and take them to the organization station
  • Make and stuff age appropriate stockings
  • Provide crafts on Santa Shop Day
  • Be Santa/Dancing dreidle
  • Set up the Santa Shop
  • Assist clients in gift selection
  • And more

Cash donations are needed to complete the needs for gifts for all age groups.

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