Last Thursday saw a school bus loaded floor-to-ceiling with gifts make its way to Kingston Episcopal Parish in Mathews as part of the annual Christmas Store for economically disadvantaged families. 

A small team of dedicated bargain shoppers works throughout the year to acquire rooms full of gifts, toys, clothes and housewares to serve more families.

In addition, contributions from Toys for Tots and The LEGO Group helped make the store possible.

Families approved through Mathews Social Services are assigned points based on the size of their household and economic need. They can use those points at the “storefront” at Kingston Parish to make Christmas a reality for their children. In turn, the children can also pick out presents for their parents.

In addition to Social Services and local churches, the Mathews High School Beta Club and members of the U.S. Coast Guard stationed at Milford Haven came out to help ferry the toys from the Social Services building to the s...