The Crockett Christmas Store
A 501(c)3 organization benefitting the children of Crockett County, Tennessee
Who We Are
The Crockett Christmas Store is a non-profit organization comprised of local churches, civic groups and individuals whose goal is to provide for people who are having financial difficulties the opportunity to purchase new toys for Christmas at a greatly discounted price. We also strive to provide food boxes for these children to use during Christmas break since many are on free breakfast and lunch during the school year. It is our intention to show the love of Jesus Christ though everything we do.
Our History...
In 2011 the folks in one small church congregation decided that they wanted to help more than just a few children at Christmas. So they looked at the Reelfoot Rural Ministries model of a Christmas Store and started heading in that direction. Immediately realizing that this was too big for them to do alone they reached out to the churches in the community. The churches responded and the Crockett Christmas Store was born.
At the beginning of 2012 the group became a 501(3)C non-profit charity that spans across many people and churches in Crockett County. Amoung our membership we are blessed to have people who work in children's services, the medical field, education, agriculture, banking, automotive industry and more. We're also made up of retirees, new parents, families, and memebers of clergy.We have many fundraisers throughout the year and rely on the support and donations of local churches and businesses to fund our endeavors. We also apply for local and national grants from businesses such as Wal-Mart, Kroger, DuPont Pioneer and DOT Foods.
The store's first year we were able to help 53 families (137 children). In 2012 that number jumped up to 132 families (337 children). In 2013 we served 200 families (503 children) as well as providing a box of food per family. In 2014 we were able to provide a box of "kid-prepare able" food per child that will provide breakfast and lunch for them while out of school on Christmas break in addition to their Christmas gifts. In 2014, 663 children were served and in 2015 we were blessed to serve 765 children. For our 2016 store we replaced one of the children's small gifts with a pack of socks, a pack of underwear and an age-appropriate Bible in hopes of better fitting the needs of those 653 children we served.
At the beginning of 2012 the group became a 501(3)C non-profit charity that spans across many people and churches in Crockett County. Amoung our membership we are blessed to have people who work in children's services, the medical field, education, agriculture, banking, automotive industry and more. We're also made up of retirees, new parents, families, and memebers of clergy.We have many fundraisers throughout the year and rely on the support and donations of local churches and businesses to fund our endeavors. We also apply for local and national grants from businesses such as Wal-Mart, Kroger, DuPont Pioneer and DOT Foods.
The store's first year we were able to help 53 families (137 children). In 2012 that number jumped up to 132 families (337 children). In 2013 we served 200 families (503 children) as well as providing a box of food per family. In 2014 we were able to provide a box of "kid-prepare able" food per child that will provide breakfast and lunch for them while out of school on Christmas break in addition to their Christmas gifts. In 2014, 663 children were served and in 2015 we were blessed to serve 765 children. For our 2016 store we replaced one of the children's small gifts with a pack of socks, a pack of underwear and an age-appropriate Bible in hopes of better fitting the needs of those 653 children we served.
Our Testimony...
This is God's ministry. We pray for God's guidance constantly throughout the planning, purchasing, fundraising, and operating of this organization. We have seen God do amazing things with and through this ministry. Many lives have been touched by what we do, but this last year we saw God do something beyond our expectations.
In 2012 we received applications for 301 childen but only had funding for around 220. Stepping out on faith we sent out acceptance letters for all 301 children. When the store opened not only had we received the additional funding we needed, but we were also able to provide for 36 more.
We now choose to steward our funding by only approving the children we have funding for, but God has never failed to provide for all the qualifying families who ask for our help.
God blessed us with grants in 2016 that allowed us to provide enough food to provide breakfast and lunch for each child during the weekdays of Christmas break. This was more food than we have ever had to manage before, yet He provided us a means of food purchase, transportation, a place for storage and sorting and enough help to get all those food boxes ready in one night. His care for us never end!
We are confident that as long as we put God first in this ministry that God will continue to bless it and guide us. We do not take credit for anything that is accomplished, all glory and praise is given to God.
We are confident that as long as we put God first in this ministry that God will continue to bless it and guide us. We do not take credit for anything that is accomplished, all glory and praise is given to God.
