It’s December in Texas. The weather isn’t quite “frightful,” as the song goes, but it has turned quite a bit cooler. In Arlington, December means that the opening of our free Christmas Store is just around the corner.  In fact, the Store opens this coming Saturday.  Read on to lear more about ways you can be involved.

Dates & Times

Our Free Christmas Store – for Arlington & Grand Prairie residents – opens this coming Saturday, December 13th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The Store stays open every day afterwards (excluding Sundays), from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through December 23rd. Please help us spread the word. On the last day, Tuesday, December 23rd, the Store opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at Noon.

How to Gain Access

If you live in Arlington or Grand Prairie, and need help with Christmas gifts for your children, please come see us.  To gain entrance into the Mission Arlington^® Christmas Store, you will need the following items: 1) Proof of Address, 2) A Photo ID., and 3) Official documentation that the children belong to you, such as birth certificates, Medicaid Cards, School or Medical records. The documentation must have both the child’s name and the parent/guardians name on the same paperwork.

Wrapping Gifts at the Store

Want to Volunteer?

On any given day that the Store is open, volunteers help with a variety of activities: 1) Stocking – keeping the Store filled with needed gifts, so that the last person of the day has the same opportunities as the first person who enters the store. 2) Shopper Helpers – personalize the store by walking with moms & dads to help them pick out gifts for their children. 3) Gift Wrap – providing that department store feel by personally wrapping the big gifts for each family. 4) Childcare – Helping us care for the children of parents who are shopping in our free Store. This allows parents not to have to pay for childcare in order to come to our Store.  Also, it allows the parents to look for their children’s gifts, without the child being present.

If you want to come as an individual, or with your family, just show up anytime the Store is open, and we’ll get you going. (It’s really that simple).  On the other hand, if you are bringing a group (over five people, let’s say), of some kind, then it would be helpful to know you are coming.  You can let us know in two ways:  1) Call us at 817-277-6620 and tell the operator that you want to bring your group” to volunteer.  2) Or, you can “write to us” here. Select “I want to bring a group” for the subject line, fill out the information, and then “send” it to us.

Want to Provide Christmas Gifts?

List of Needed Toys / Amazon Wish List

1.  Cash Option – You can send or bring in cash or a check, designating “Christmas” in the Memo Line.
2. Website Donation – Click the secure link to donate through our website. Choose the “Christmas Fund.”
3. Drop Off – You can drop off your Christmas gifts directly at Mission Arlington^® anytime between 7 and 7 Monday-Saturday.  See our “Suggested Toy List.”
4. Amazon Wish List – You can select gifts from our Amazon Wish List, and those gifts will be mailed directly to us.

It’s “beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” isn’t it?  We look forward to serving with you.