There’s a special feeling that stirs inside when you watch someone unwrap a gift you’ve picked out for them. A Winnipeg company is hoping to give 500 children that experience this Christmas with a very special shopping spree.
Think Shift, a branding and advertising agency is preparing for its annual Make Nice Happen event, a pop-up shop filled with goodies available for free to students from two North End schools.
“It’ll be almost like a real shop that you’d walk into,” said Michelle Braun.
The graphic designer at Think Shift is coordinating the event which involves the entire staff at their Winnipeg office.
“We have a P.R. team, we have people who are gathering donations, we have people who are organizing donations and everyone is really here to back each other up and make this a success.”
The employees are on a mission to collect over 3,000 items for their pop-up shop. On Dec. 15 the gym at R.B. Russell Vocational School will open it’s door to all the students, along with some from nearby David Livingston Elementary School.
“We felt this was a great place to bring some holiday cheer,” said Braun.
About 80 per cent of the students at R.B. Russell school live below the poverty line. Many don’t have an opportunity to buy gifts for their loved ones.
“That feeling of giving, I just think sometimes they miss out on that,” said Lisa Fraser, a physical education teacher at R.B. Russell.
Each student will be able visit the pop-up shop in the gym and pick out three to four items for a loved one in their family.
Staff from Think Shift volunteer throughout the day as personal shoppers, spending time with each student, helping them decide what their loved one might really enjoy.
The presents are taken to a gift-wrapping station and then ends with a cup of hot chocolate and treats.
“It’s a humbling feeling for them to give back to the people that care for them,” said Fraser.
“Kind of like the pay it forward. We want all our students to experience giving to each other and giving back to their community.”
Think Shift is collecting anything that would be gift-worthy. Toys, decorations, clothes, purses and games.
Braun is excited to see the event coming together. After being part of a similar event the last two years, she knows how special the experience is.
“Making people smile is such a great feeling and it’s a nice thing to share with our co-workers in our workplace.”
Find out more about Make Nice Happen and how you can get involved.
Better Winnipeg is a regular feature on Global News that highlights people, events and organizations that make Winnipeg a great place to live. If you have a story idea email: betterwinnipeg@globalnews.ca
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