CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Holiday shopping is in full swing but if you don't want to wrap gifts this year, the charity gift wrapping station at La Palmera Mall will take care of that for you.
Sarona Winfrey with La Palmera Mall said the charity gift wrapping program was created to help nonprofits raise money during the holidays.
"It's just our way of sort of giving back to the community and giving these organizations an opportunity to raise some much needed funding," Winfrey said.
This event has become so popular in the Coastal Bend that the mall has a lottery that picks the nonprofits that will be participating each season.
"Those that respond back will be part of the lottery," Winfrey said. "And then it's first come first serve in terms of we draw a charity, a nonprofit, and they get their first pick of which weekend or what days they want and then down the list that way."
Esmeralda Espinoza was shopping for gifts when she noticed the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Bend were gift wrapping. Her children were part of the organization and stopped to donate.
"It's better for the community to come together, especially in the holidays so people can see it's a good thing," Espinoza said.
Winfrey said over the years, this special opportunity has helped dozens of nonprofits raise hundreds of dollars in just a couple of days.
"We think it's important for us to be able to provide a way to give back to the community because these organizations do so much in the Coastal Bend," Winfrey said. "And we think it's important for them to be able to continue the work they do."
Nonprofits participating in the charity gift wrapping this season:
- November 29–December 1: Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Bend
- December 6–8: Special Hearts in the Arts
- December 13–15: Prime Real Estate | Family Counseling Service
- December 20–22: Burn Pits 360 Veterans Organization
- December 23–24: School of Science & Technology