Kids are invited to pick out their own Christmas presents at the annual 'Kids Christmas Shopping Event' this Saturday (December 1) at Cochrane Home Treasures.

This is the 13th year Cochrane Home Treasures has invited in children ages 2 to 12 to buy gifts for a nominal cost with the help of some special volunteer elves.

Cayley Breeze, Store Manager for Cochrane Home Treasures, says the event has grown exponentially over the years and while it may be crazy it is one of the staff's favourite days of the year. "Kids can come, they pay $5 and they can choose any five gifts in the store. We help them wrap them and get everyone on their list. It's just an awesome way to get kids to participate in the holiday season and they are just so excited. It is absolute insanity, it's very busy, so people should expect that."

Breeze shares while the event was originally created to give children of lower income families an opportunity to buy presents for their loved ones, they now see over 400 children through the door. "It came out of an opportunity for children of lower incomes, so if a kid or their family, didn't have a lot of money it was a way for them to have a Christmas shopping experience."

Over the course of the year, staff set aside items for the one-day shopping extravaganza and with the help of volunteers, children are able to shop on their own and pick out items. "We have little helper elves that will help a child with their list. So we ask that they come with five names (or however many) and their ages, so if they are buying for siblings we know how to help them. They can choose to come with an elf or we do have some parents that come with their kids and shop for grandma and grandad or siblings."

The best part is all the monies raised from the Kids Christmas Shopping event benefits the community at large. Thanks to community support, Breeze, shares they are on track to give $100,000 back to organizations within Cochrane. "We are a not-for-profit so all of the money from this event and the profits from Cochrane Home Treasures get donated back into local charities only. Last year we did $92,000 and this year I am pretty sure we will break the $100,000 mark, we only give to local charities so it all stays right here in the community."

The Kids Christmas Shopping event runs from 10 am to 4 pm and as a reminder, no donations will be accepted this Saturday. Breeze anticipates they will see 400 or more children on Saturday and says all are welcome, Cochrane Home Treasures is located at 10-, 118 1st Ave.