Barb Bereczki, left, a member of the Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary Children & Youth Committee, assists a young boy during the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day held on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook. Despite a winter storm that descended on the area earlier that morning, more than 170 children attended the event to “shop” for their loved ones. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GLADBROOK – For the second year running, Gladbrook’s beloved Kids Shopping Day took place amid a significant winter storm. But not even intense snowfall and dangerously-cold temperatures could stop more than 170 children from attending (with their caregivers) the 13th annual event held last Saturday at Peace United Church of Christ in order to pick out gifts for their loved ones this Christmas season.

While attendance (171) this year was down slightly from years past, organizer Jeanne Paustian, who chairs Kids Shopping Day as a member of the Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary Children & Youth Committee, said everything went well.

“I was happy so many (still) came. But I know if we have it, parents or grandparents are going to get them here.”

Kids Shopping Day has grown tremendously since it first began back in 2011 but still manages to remain true to the original intent – allowing children to more fully experience the joy that caring for others brings. The idea behind that very first Kids Shopping Day originated with now-retired Gladbrook kindergarten teacher Becky Fish, Paustian said.

“She came and asked me one day if I thought Gladbrook would support a Christmas store where kids could shop for their loved ones – no parent help and at no cost. And I said, well, I think we could do that. It was all Becky’s idea.”

As eager children accompanied by their caregivers look on from the sidewalk, Kids Shopping Day committee chair Jeanne Paustian unlocks the doors of Peace Church. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

In the early years, the event was held at the Gladbrook Memorial Building before quickly outgrowing the space. Today, Kids Shopping Day takes place over practically the entire two floors of Peace Church, including in the sanctuary where caregivers wait for their children as they “shop” downstairs. Without parental help, it requires an army of volunteers to orchestrate the event each year.

“We have a lot of different volunteers to help the children, including high school students – the little ones love going with them to shop. It takes about 82 people to make it all work,” Paustian said.

In addition to members of the Gladbrook Legion Auxiliary, Paustian receives volunteers and/or donations from almost all the area churches and organizations, including the Gladbrook Corn Carnival Corp., the Gladbrook Commercial Club, the Gladbrook Women’s Club, the Gladbrook Lions Club, the Legion, and many more.

“We wouldn’t stay afloat if we didn’t have all the organizations that supply volunteers and financial donations.”

It also takes roughly $3,500 a year to finance the massive endeavor despite about 75% of the items being donated outright. Cash donations are used to shore up tables.

An early scene from the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day held last Saturday at Peace Church in Gladbrook. The basement Christmas Store room, ringed with wrapping stations staffed by volunteers, was bustling with children shortly after the event’s 9 a.m. start. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“We always have to beef up toys and the men’s gifts. We [receive donations] all year long. As soon as Christmas is over, we’ll see stuff start coming in the door again.”

Following the shopping day, many of the leftover items are taken to Westbrook Acres for residents to shop for their own loved ones and for themselves, Paustian said.

“We’ll also take a few things that we know they like – such as puzzles – to Independent Living. We also make a donation to Trinkets & Togs [Thrift Store in Grundy Center].”

Trinket & Togs is part of the non-profit agency The Larrabee Center. All proceeds from Trinkets & Togs sales support services for persons with disabilities and the elderly.

Kids Shopping Day: 2025

Kids Shopping Day volunteer Drayson Stephenson (right), a senior at GMG High School, assists a young boy with his “shopping” on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Peace Church in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Last Saturday, Dec. 13, as snow piled up on the sidewalk outside Peace Church’s south entrance, children were lined up down the street well ahead of Kids Shopping Day’s 9 a.m. start which kicked off with Paustian unlocking the church’s double doors. Once inside, attendees were greeted at the check-in table by volunteers Sherri Denbow and Becky Fevold who handed out gift lists and pencils.

After checking in, children proceeded upstairs to the sanctuary to deposit their coats (and their caregivers) before filling out their gift list with the names of family members for whom they would like to “shop.” Once their list was completed, they moved to the gift tag tables which were strewn with 100s of beautiful tags handmade by volunteers using discarded and/or past holiday cards.

From there, children ventured downstairs for the main event – shopping in the Christmas Store. At the entrance to the store’s large room, children were given a clipboard for their list plus a red or blue shopping basket. Preschoolers and kindergarteners received assistance from a volunteer as they perused the many tables. Once finished, children moved on to the wrapping stations – situated on the room’s periphery – where their selections were expertly prepared for gifting. They were then zoomed back upstairs (with their gifts) by elevator to a room located behind the chancel for a quick chat with the “People of Bethlehem.” This year’s cast featured Rev. Gideon Gallo of Gladbrook United Methodist Church, Rev. Mark Keefer of Traer United Methodist Church, Kay Lowry, Sue Storjohann, and Sierra Wiebensohn.

“Children can’t shop for themselves [at Kids Shopping Day], so they receive a nativity Christmas card and a nativity ornament (from the People of Bethlehem). They also tell them about the reason for the season,” Paustian explained.

Then it was time to find their caregivers in the sanctuary – or have a committee volunteer make a phone call – and head home with their bounty of carefully-curated gifts. This is the part Paustian said she loves the most as she hears about it later from parents and grandparents following the event.

“People of Bethlehem” volunteer Kay Lowry, left, visits with three-year-old Rooney Tessendorf last Saturday morning at Peace Church in Gladbrook. This was Rooney’s first year attending Kids Shopping Day. She is the daughter of Greg and Kassidy Tessendorf. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“It’s really sweet – how they put them under their trees. They might rearrange them under the tree 100 times. They’re just so proud of their gifts. … It (really does) make you cry. I helped one little girl (on Saturday), she didn’t say one word to me. But she was so proud.”

And while the event takes place in the heart of Gladbrook, Paustian said children from far beyond the local community attend. On Saturday, there were children present from throughout Tama County as well as Reinbeck – including Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent Caleb Bonjour’s children – and even Marshalltown.

But no matter how big it gets, Paustian said the committee has no plans to stop.

“It is a Gladbrook Christmas tradition that we plan to continue for years to come.”

Mark your calendars now – and hope for better weather! – Gladbrook’s 14th annual Kids Shopping Day is set for Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026.

Jeanne Paustian, committee chair of Kids Shopping Day, assists a young girl during the 13th annual event held last Saturday at Peace Church in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S!

Thank you, from the Committee

A very special thank you to everyone who donated items or provided monetary donations for the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day Christmas store; the ladies who made the gift tags, the guys who helped get the church ready, the many volunteers who helped set up the store, those who helped on shopping day, and the guys who came back to return the church to right. The sparkle in the children’s eyes told us they appreciated everything. We needed each and every one of you in order to pull the event together. THANK YOU so much!

Volunteers with the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day pose for a group photograph on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, just ahead of the event which took place at Peace Church in Gladbrook. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A young boy selects gifts for family members on Saturday, Dec. 13, as part of the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Volunteer Drayson Stephenson (right), a senior at GMG High School, helps Sydney Thompson carry her wrapped gifts on Saturday, Dec. 13, during Kids Shopping Day at Peace Church in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A young girl peruses the Christmas Store tables while “shopping” for family members on Saturday, Dec. 13, as part of the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A young girl selects gifts for family members on Saturday, Dec. 13, in the basement room of Peace Church in Gladbrook as part of the 13th annual Kids Shopping Day. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A young boy has his picture taken last Saturday morning in front of the nativity scene set up inside Peace United Church of Christ’s sanctuary during Kids Shopping Day in Gladbrook. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER