Tiny Tim Shoppe gives youth independence

MANSFIELD - Keegan Cornell can keep a Christmas secret.

The 5-year-old would only whisper what gifts he purchased for his parents and older sister Saturday at Tiny Tim Shoppe. And thanks to the program, he can keep his secret until Christmas morning.

Volunteers help them stick to a budget, and all presents are wrapped before leaving so family members can't sneak a peak at their gifts.

It's a way to allow youth to be independent in their gift-giving, downtown community liaison Bryan Gladden said.

"The kids really enjoy it," Gladden said. "They want to surprise them (their family). They want to see the same sparkle that they have when they get gifts."

Julius Walker, 8, took his time carefully weighing the gifts available against the personalities of his siblings.

For his 15-year-old brother, he selected a camo wallet and, for the second gift, combined two of his brother's favorite foods: chocolate-covered peanuts. For his 13-year-old sister, he was hunting for a something blue — her favorite color — but settled for a pink purse.

"My sister likes to save up money, so I thought that would be a good choice for her," Walker said.

The program also supports downtown merchants.

Stores donate items from their shops that will fit Tiny Tim's limit of $10, and they get paid for the items purchased. There were candles and holiday decorations for mom, tools for dad, toys for siblings and pets and sweet treats for everyone else on the list.

The program has been running for 18 years, Gladden said.

"Now we have kids who came shopping here bringing their children," Gladden said.

It has become a tradition Kaelyn Carr looks forward to every year. The 9-year-old said she was proud of the gifts she picked out for her grandparents, brother and cousins.

"I like getting my own gifts for people and not having help," Carr said.

The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday through Dec. 19.

kdurbin@gannett.com

419-521-7205

Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin