OLATHE, Kan. — About 12,000 people in Johnson County, Kansas, are getting a shopping experience they otherwise wouldn't get this holiday thanks to the Johnson County Christmas Bureau’s Holiday Shop.
The charity spends the year collecting gifts and necessities and then allows people living in poverty to pick out what they need during a week-long shop in December.
This is the shop’s 41st season. It is operating out of the old Best Buy building at 11750 S. Strange line Road in Olathe.
Clients register in advance, schedule a time between Dec. 4 and 11 to visit the shop, and then choose items from nine different departments ranging from food and personal hygiene items, to gifts and clothing.
“They get a shopping experience like everyone else around them. They're watching all the materialism around the holidays, they don't have the money for necessities, let alone extras. So they can come through here and shop like they're watching all their neighbors shop,” Larry Bigus, the organization’s executive director, said.
This year, the Christmas Bureau is calling for donations of childrens coats and any adult coats sizes extra-large and larger. You can drop off new or gently-used coats the Holiday Shop near 119th and Strang Line Road in Olathe.
The bureau is still accepting applications for clients who may be eligible to receive help from the organization. For more information on the qualifications click here or email clientservices@jccb.org.
