Adults choosing gifts for the kids in the giant toy store. Photos courtesy of Better Balance for Long Beach.

To help brighten the Holiday season for all, Better Balance for Long Beach (BBLB), the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation and volunteers will once again put on the “One Day Christmas Store – Shopping with Dignity” event on Saturday, December 20 at 8:00AM, to be located in the Seaside Rooms at the Convention Center. For the sake of helping hundreds of families have a happier and more fulfilling Christmas, this is the 8th year the BBLB and its partners will be donating Christmas presents to families in need.

In 2011, Neighborhoods USA awarded BBLB the grand prize as Neighborhood of the Year for the One Day Christmas Store. This will be the Store’s 2nd year at its new location, the Seaside Rooms at the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. Volunteers will begin building the stores at 8:00AM, while families will begin shopping at 10:00AM on Saturday, December 20, 2014. 

This year, the BBLB has invited 245 families by invitation or appointment to shop. Over 200 volunteer Elves will help them choose their gifts. Parents can choose gifts for their families and children, while even children will be able to pick something out for their moms and dads. New books provided by the Molina Foundation, a waiting area staffed by DB Logistics and free cab rides home from Yellow Cab are just a few of the generous donations by being made by companies in the holiday spirit. A team of volunteer shoppers were also able to leverage the donors’ dollars by buying brand new gifts at wholesale cost. That enables each store to have many multiples of every gift from which to choose.

Jack Smith, BBLB member, said in a press statement, “This event creates lasting, happy Christmas memories for families who, without the help of the Store, might not have any Christmas presents this year. It’s a festive, fun and heartwarming day for all the donors, volunteers and families. We all look forward to this event every year.”

For more information about the store and to see a video, visit the BBLB website or e-mail [email protected].

Kids choosing gifts for Mom, Dad and the other adults in the family at their own store.