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Community Services League to help 25% more families with 2020 Christmas Store

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More families will have gifts for their children this Christmas thanks to the Community Services League (CSL).

The nonprofit based in Independence operates its Christmas Store every year. Eligible, pre-registered families visit the store to pick up items for their children. The items are free, but families get to pick them out as if they were shopping.

In 2020, CSL will help about 25 percent more families than in previous years. Organizers said they allowed 1,500 families to sign up for the service, which they normally cap at 1,200 families.

The Christmas Store opens Monday, but the registration period for families to sign up for assistance from the store ended in November.

CSL is enrolling volunteers to work at the store. Job duties include sorting gifts, setting up, helping shoppers and closing the store. You can sign up on the organization’s website.

Aside from the Christmas store, CSL runs a variety of other programs to help families in eastern Jackson County, Missouri. The programs include utility payment assistance, food banks, a career opportunity initiative, financial literacy training, employment services and more.

This year, anonymous donors have agreed to match up to $100,000 in donations to CSL during a Christmas matching fundraiser challenge. The matching program allows CSL to double an individual donation. You can make a contribution to the fundraiser challenge on the organization’s website.

The Christmas Store is located in the Uptown Market at 211 West Truman Rd., Independence, Mo.

The store is open during the following hours:

  • Monday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 17: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 18: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Dec. 19: 9 a.m. to noon