Phyllis Clark retired four years ago, but when the holiday season rolls around you wouldn't know it. She’s always busy wrapping gifts and not for herself but to help those in need.
"Ever since I retired, I have come out here to wrap gifts. And it was on my bucket list, you might call it, when I was working that when I retired I wanted to do this," volunteer Phyllis Clark said.
Giving back to the community and doing it for a good cause is what entices Clark to help at the Children's Inn wrapping booth at the Empire Mall.
"I think it’s wonderful that here in Sioux Falls we can offer a place for women and children to have a safe haven," Clark said.
While this is a fulfilling time for Clark, it’s also an extremely helpful event for the Children's Inn.
“We were able to raise over $33,000 here last year just wrapping Christmas presents. About one third of our budget comes from special events and fundraising," Staci Kropuenske from Children’s Inn said.
And for a non-profit organization, that can make all the difference.
"Our primary purpose is to provide safety for those in need. We work with victims of domestic violence of child abuse and neglect and we want to help keep people safe at no cost to them. So doing events like this helps us to provide that service at no cost," Stacy said.
It's a service that not only helps Children's Inn but also shoppers; Clark says it’s a win-win for everyone.
"I love wrapping gifts and I like meeting people," Clark said.
The gift wrapping booth is open daily and will close for the season at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The suggested donations are $3 for small gifts, $4 for medium and $5 for large gifts.
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