The wreaths, trees and garland tossed into one person’s giveaway pile aren’t ready to adorn the next holiday home without Dee Isenberg’s special touch.
Each slice of greenery is stripped and redecorated before it’s priced to sell alongside an assortment of snowmen, Santas, ornaments and village pieces at the Christmas Shop, which raises money to feed local families.
“After teaching school for so long, I saw families that needed food,” said Isenberg, who spends her days arranging the holiday decorations that make their way through the door.
Isenberg and other volunteers re-opened the shop earlier this month for a final season, carrying on a tradition started by longtime downtown business owner Marcheta Dixon, who died in September.
Dixon had amassed a collection of Christmas decor that she wanted to sell and use the money to purchase food certificates for those in need.
“She was such a saint,” said Carol Homann, a longtime Christmas Shop volunteer.
Over the years, people donated enough holiday decor to fill the staircase of Dixon’s next door antique store. After Thanksgiving when families begin digging out their Christmas stash, Isenberg said, the storage room will be too full to work in.
The shop has set a $5,000 goal. Monetary donations can be sent to 122 W. Main St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Make checks payable to La Rose on Main.
Shop hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
As his family browsed the shelves Friday morning, 4-year-old D.J. Alexander was already excited for Christmas.
“I’m going to get all the presents!” D.J. exclaimed.
He marveled at a Santa Claus music box that Isenberg wrapped up for them to buy.
“It’s families like that that make this whole thing worthwhile,” she said.
