Local church helps parents shop for Christmas

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- With Christmas less than two weeks away, a local church wants to help struggling parents put a few more things under the tree. 

Broadway Christian Parish Church hosted its annual Jubilee Christmas Store event Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Around 110 families signed up to come shop and wrap gifts for their children. 

The church spent all year in preparation, collecting various toys for kids of all ages. Those toys, along with books and stockings, filled multiple rooms at the event. 

Broadway Christian Parish Pastor Bette Thompson says the gifts will go to around 300 children from struggling families in the community. 

"So many times people are just living close to the edge of having extra money," she said. "We like to help out by providing a way to have a good Christmas."

They do that, she says through providing the gifts, along with a meal and sometimes even a Christmas tree. 

Volunteers of all age groups and walks of life took time to help out. Some, including Thompson, putting in hours of work. 

"We gain so much by giving," said Thompson. "We receive just as much as the person that's receiving what we give. So we're all in it together and it's a beautiful thing."

Thompson said the church will still accept donations of toys after the event to help families this Christmas.