ROTARY CLUB OF ANTELOPE VALLEY HOSTS 29th CHILDREN'S SHOPPING SPREE

For the 29^th year, The Rotary Club of Antelope Valley conducted its’ Annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Spree at the Walmart Super Center on 10th Street West in Palmdale on December 9, 2023. This year The Rotary Club of Antelope Valley increased the number of needy families from 32 to 34. Once again, the Walmart Team provided the venue for these under privileged children from needy families to participate in the shopping spree. The children came from several local elementary schools within the Antelope Valley. The Club was assisted by students from the Lancaster Interact Club, Volunteer Teachers, and Rotary Club Members.

Check-in began at 8:00 AM. The children were grouped with staggered check-in times to be provided with name tags and Volunteer Assistants to help with their shopping. Shopping began shortly after 8:00 AM. The children shopped the entire store selecting gifts for Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, pets and other relatives. At the completion of shopping, the Rotary Club Members, Adult Volunteers, and Lancaster Interact Members took the gifts through the check-out stand and on to the wrapping tables. Each gift was brightly wrapped with festive holiday wrapping paper and bows for exchange with the children’s family members at Christmas. In addition, each child was given a gift card which they could use at the time or wait until after Christmas to select a gift of their choice.

A tremendous Thank You goes out to Walmart Manager Mr. Nhan Nguyen and Floor Supervisor Sunshine Ferguson and her staff for their support this year. Walmart’s help and assistance made this event possible. As always, the Rotary Club of Antelope Valley strived to established two objectives for the shoppers: To learn to budget the funds provided to them and to better understand the meaning of the holiday season in which it is more rewarding to give than to receive. Those objectives were met again this year with joyous and great success.