St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, has sponsored an Opportunity Shop since the early 1950’s.
All the merchandise is donated by the public. The employees are volunteers. The entire net income is donated to local charities.
The shop attracts items that are unusual, in good shape and often found nowhere else. Most are inexpensive. Christmas items will be 50% off on Friday and 75% on Saturday.
A simple sign for a community resource
The shop offers all manner of gifts: CD’s, books, clothing/shoes, kitchen and tableware, jewelry, dozens of framed paintings/prints, electronics and lamps, and collector’s items such as carved wooden sculptures. The examples below are only for Christmas-themed items.
A collection of dolls
Three kings amid serving dishes
A holiday wall quilt
Rabbit and cat dolls
A clothes tree full of stockings
Cookie tins
A multi tiered creche–one of many different nativity creations
Father Christmas dressed for winter-in different garments
Small toys upon toys
Momma Claus
I’m off to shop now! And if you are sceptical as to whether commerce and Christmas can co-exist, here is an example from Germany.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEdQGGjB8Y)