Summary: The spirit of Christmas will be shining ever so brightly as the Save and Serve Thrift Store opens its doors for its annual Christmas Open House Nov. 24 – 29.
Christmas is about giving. Giving not of just material gifts, but of the more important, intangible gifts: friendship, volunteerism, a helping hand for those in need. Save and Serve Thrift Shop of Millersburg has been putting giving into practice for 36 years, and they are inviting the public to join with them as the celebrate the season of giving with their Christmas Open House, held this year from Nov. 24 through 29. The sounds, scents, and visual delights of the season will transform the popular resale store into a Christmas wonderland holding one-of-a-kind treasures that bring the Christmas spirit to life.
This is our fourth year, and it has become a tradition, said volunteer Ruby Miller of Millersburg. People line up the door long before our 8:30 a.m. opening.
Plans are made for the Christmas Open House months in advance, with the final preparations taking place the weekend before the main event.
We close on noon the Saturday before the Christmas Open House to prepare, noted Eric Raber, who co-manages Save and Serve along with Helen Glick.
Thats when we do almost a complete changeover of the store, explained Glick. We take out lots of things, and put in many special areas. Volunteers like Ruby and Janice Miller, along with others, will do fantastic Christmas displays. They have a huge range of ideas.
Volunteer Nyoka Boley keeps an eye out all year long for beautiful Christmas related items that are donated to Save and Serve, and carefully marks them and tucks them away for safe keeping until the holiday season rolls around. Then, the items are brought from the warehouse and carefully unwrapped and placed on the Save and Serve shelves, where the decorators begin to work their magic.
The whole magic of it is in the way it is presented, said Raber. The displays done by our volunteers are presented to open your imagination to how you can work with Christmas merchandise and display it this time of the year.
Save and Serve is offering handcrafted wreaths, holiday table arrangements, and novelty items relating to the Christmas season. Whether it be dishes, garlands, linens, ornaments, decorations, lights, or Nativity sets, Save and Serve is sure to have exactly what shoppers are searching for.
The store will feature the unique and the unusual, as well as antique and vintage items, all priced very reasonably. Volunteers will be constantly replenishing the shelves with approximately 2,000 new items each day.
Volunteer Janice Miller is eager to begin decorating the store for the event, and having the satisfaction of seeing happy buyers. People can dress their homes in holiday style by shopping at Save and Serve.
Hours for the Save and Serve Christmas Open House are Monday through Saturday, Nov. 24-29, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursday. The store is located at 1108 South Washington Street, Millersburg, OH. 330-674-1323
