LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — For more than two decades, thousands of children in the Lexington area have received Christmas gifts from a pop-up store put together by two local organizations.
For months, the Catholic Action Center collects toys and organizes volunteers before assembling a decorated Christmas store for those in need at Southland Christian Church on Richmond Road.
Organizers say the store's mission is to help those who need extra support bringing Christmas to their children.
"This is dignity," said Catholic Action Center Director and Co-founder Ginny Ramsey. "You know, if I needed things for my children and you were just to hand me what you thought I wanted. That's lovely and wonderful, but when I get to choose it myself, that's dignity."
After a call to the community for donations, the decorations started rolling in.
Ramsey explained, "I know that in one day we got 22, 7-foot tall or higher Christmas trees."
A semi-truck full of decorations arrived at Southland Christian Church on Thursday with more decor than ever before.
"It always is amazing to me, and I shouldn't be amazed anymore because I get to participate in this wonderful community that we have here in Lexington, who are compassionate and who want to share and who are generous," said Ramsey.
The Catholic Action Center said they need volunteers to help decorate Friday, Dec. 13, through Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. They've also asked for help during those same times on Monday, Dec. 16 or Sunday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Thousands of tickets for the store will start being handed out at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The store runs from Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 19.
