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Let Your Littles Shop

By Virginia Ekstrand

Dec. 11, 2025 10:23 pm

Young shopper with guide stops at a table loaded with choices.
Young shopper with guide stops at a table loaded with choices.
Choosing and labeling just the right gift tag takes thought and some advice from onlookers.
Choosing and labeling just the right gift tag takes thought and some advice from onlookers.
Young shopper takes a break and has her picture taken with her helper.
Young shopper takes a break and has her picture taken with her helper.
Dad helps shopper get gifts together and ready to head home to place them under the tree.
Dad helps shopper get gifts together and ready to head home to place them under the tree.
Dads showed their artistic ability and helped shoppers by wrapping their choices.
Dads showed their artistic ability and helped shoppers by wrapping their choices.
Sheriff helps a shopper check out his list and gives encouragement after a shopping tour.
Sheriff helps a shopper check out his list and gives encouragement after a shopping tour.

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

On the first Saturday of December the Holiday Stroll and a dedicated group of volunteers hold a Christmas Shopping Event. The event begins with donations from members of the community. Many new and gently used items are joined by items purchased with monetary gifts. Lorber Insurance deserves special recognition and appreciation. Paul generously allows the Stroll to gather and store donations. The New London Christian Church also deserves a huge thank you for helping collect donations and dropping them off!

Clark Elementary students grades K-6 gather with money and lists clutched tightly in their hands. After registering, they wait patiently in line for their turn to shop. A volunteer guide accompanies each child to help them shop. Gifts are available for adults, siblings and pets. The frowns are countless but are indicative of how serious the children in their desire to make a family member happy.

A Huge Shout Out goes to the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, the Mount Pleasant Kiwanis and the New London PTO. These volunteers not only helped with student shopping, they wrapped gifts, showed kids how to fill out gift tags. Christmas spirit and ideals were apparent everywhere in the cafeteria. Check out Chelsea Boecker’s Facebook page for more community members to thank.

In addition to providing a Christmas service for young people, the Christmas Shopping event is a Holiday Stroll fundraiser. This year over $1000 were raised to be used help Christmas families in need.

New London will surely experience a truly magical Christmas in 2025.
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